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By Mike Cuenca | April 24, 2000
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Twenty-eight years ago, I was a bored inner-city youth growing up on
the streets of Wichita. I was not interested in school, and I had
flunked most of my classes my sophomore year through lack of
attendance. I was close to dropping out when a far-sighted counselor
who knew of my interest in media hooked me up with Thurman Mitchell
(4/13, column, B-1), who was then working at KLEO Radio as a reporter
and as Urban Affairs Director.
The school allowed me to begin skipping entire days of class so that I
could go to work with Thurman as he covered news around town. This
policy is now commonly called "shadow days," and it helps young
students find out about what it's really like to work in various
fields.
Every Saturday night, Thurman would produce a taped gospel
music program that aired early Sunday morning. For most of the rest of
my high school career, my best friend and I would go to the radio
station every Saturday night. We often stayed there until early in the
morning. The skills Thurman taught me helped me work my way through
college and have helped me advance my career at every stage.
Later,
when Thurman was at KCTV-5 and I was searching for a way to break
through the very real color barriers in journalism, he arranged for me
to spend time there, also. The experience helped boost me to another
level in my career.
In a very real sense, I believe that he saved my
life. His commitment to me raised me up from the streets and helped me
pursue my dreams. His example helps prove that no youth need be lost to
hopelessness and frustration.
The Reverend Thurman Mitchell was a great
man, and our community has lost a great moral and spiritual leader.
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Originally published by the Kansas City Star.
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