The Seniors and the Youth

Our bus pulled into the community around 10:30 in the morning filled with children from the ages of six to twelve. As we disembarked from our bus, we were greeted by a special group of people who sang the old christian song ”When the Saints Go Marching In.” The group of people who greeted us were some of the most joyous and hospitable people you will ever find; they also happen to be much older than anyone getting off that bus. The incredible people we met that day were the saintly people of the “Linden Pond Retirement community.”

The seniors of Linden pond organized a morning filled with great activities for the kids, including a parachute, dancing and singing, and a a videographer to capture it all. We were then escorted downstairs to a lunch for the ages. We ate hot dogs, hamburgers, and salad. We also had macaroni and cheese and watermelon. They fed us like kings and queens. We were then brought outside to the ice cream truck that the seniors had rented out for us. The kids had bomb pops, popsicles, fudge-sickles, and more. Just when I thought that the seniors could not do anymore, they outdid themselves. They had an ambulance, police car, and army truck brought for the children to play in. There was even a real life police officer there as well. Wow!! I heard many kids say that “this was the best day ever!!”  

As the day came to a close, the incredible people of linden ponds had one last treat up their sleeves. They gave each child three books, a miniature globe, and a wristband. We were entertained, fed, and educated by these incredible people. The seniors at linden ponds made an indelible impression of many kids that day. It truly was “one of the best days of our lives.”    

By Bruckner Knight, Site Manager at Church of the Holy Spirit

Bruckner was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He currently lives in Milton with his wife and three daughters. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in government from Northeastern University, and earned a master’s degree in business management from Emmanuel College. He worked as a fund manager for JP Morgan Chase and Reuters. After 17 years in corporate America, he decided he wanted to work with urban youth, so he pursued a new career in education. He has worked in the Boston Public Schools for the last five years as a history teacher. He is a fierce believer in education as the way out of poverty for urban youth.

For the past four years, he has run an overnight camp in Maine with over 200 campers from around New England and Canada. Additionally, he has run the pre-teen ministry for his church for the last five years. He has a passion for the urban youth in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan, and prides himself on being an example they can follow. When not fighting for the youth of Boston, he enjoys traveling, reading, playing basketball, and bolstering his Spanish-speaking skills.