Summary
It took 16 years, but during the "March on Washington" in 1963, [Joseph H. Haley], then a young man, watched intently at the television set as another young man, Bayard Rustin, a civil rights leader, and one of the coordinators of the "March", told the hundreds of thousands of folks gathered on the mall that day, "When you go back to your neighborhood, do something!" This one sentence left an imprint on Haley's heart, and he knew then the time for rhetoric was over.
Haley's first year's mission would be clear: "Develop pride in the kids who come to play". "It wasn't important how many games were won or lost" Haley says. "The importance rested on the ability to make the players feel they were special." If the "players had a positive attitude - discipline, high moral standards, and community pride would fall in place."When it comes to taking credit for starting the JRW, Haley keeps in mind his vow to Robinson to "do him proud." He will tell you though, "It's not just my dream. My wife, [Ann] serves as president of the JRW Women's Auxiliary, and president of the Richard C. Haley Scholarship Fund, which last year raised over $17,000 in scholarship money." His two sons, Joseph and William (a third son, Richard, died in an electrical accident as a young man) are also involved in the JRW program, as is one of Haley's grandsons. (JRW not only stands for [Jackie Robinson], but Haley finds comfort in the fact that the initials are also the first letters of his sons names: Joseph, Richard and William).See the full content of this document
Extract
Joseph H. Haley; When a Village Raises a Child
To the scores of people who know him, he is simply "Hey, Mr. Haley!" But for those of us just obtaining the pleasure of his company, he is Joseph H. Haley, retired assistant principal of Marcus Garvey School in Chicago, and founder and executive director of Jackie Robinson West Little Leagu...
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