Ranger Hogan with Mr. Cooper at Graduation

1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m caring and loving. I have been told I’m a funny guy. I put nothing before God. I like to cook.

2. Why did you want to be a part of the Urban Ranger Corps?
Experience.

3. What do you hope to accomplish this summer?
Finishing this job, getting another job.

4. How do you feel about the Urban Ranger Corps so far?
It’s tiresome but I like it.

5. What are your plans for the future?
To have my own T.V. show on Food Network.

6. How do you like to spend your free time?
Reading a book. Right now I’m reading A Child Called It.

7. Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I’m an emotional person.

8. What are your greatest strengths?
Make people laugh, socializing, respect.

9. What are your greatest weaknesses?
I don’t listen well at times, I get distracted.

10. If you were president of the United States, what would you change?
World Hunger.

11. What is your favorite color? Why?
Red, because it’s a bright color.

Ranger Hogan Clearing Leaves at SPCA

Rangers in the Kauffman Center Before the Show

Thanks to a generous gift from the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts six rangers were able to attend the Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert on January 24th. It was a new and rewarding experience for the rangers. Urban Ranger Corps board member Chester Hishaw chaperoned the rangers and wrote about this experience and how he became involved with the Urban Rangers:

“I first met Fr. John Wandless on a bright and sunny day back in 2003. He passionately explained his vision and mission for the Urban Ranger Corps. I immediately became excited about the program and all its potential for the young men of the urban core.

I was honored when he ‘volun-told’ me he would like me to become a member of the Board of Directors for the Urban Rangers Corps. What I didn’t realize was how the Rangers themselves would enhance my life.

Most recently, I had the opportunity to accompany six rangers to the Kaufmann Center for the Performing Arts to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Ladysmith, nine South African men, delivered a vibrant, at times funny performance. As I observed the rangers’ expressions and postures before the performance, I feared I was going to have to wake them up when it was time to leave. As Ladysmith continued to perform I witnessed the rangers clapping their hands and attempting to sing along in a language unfamiliar to them. To my surprise on the van ride home, they reflected on how the sounds and rhythms of Ladysmith Black Mambazo were similar and relative to the sounds of today’s popular music. The experience had inspired some and make others proud. I realized then, that the evening had touched each ranger in some significant way. I am honored and blessed to have experienced the Ladysmith performance with them. The Urban Ranger Corps isn’t just another youth program, it’s a life experience for the Urban Rangers and also to anyone who involves themselves with the program.”

It was a great evening for all involved. Thank you, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Ladysmith was a wonderful experience!

Rangers and Chaprones Chester Hishaw and Victoria Libeer

Ranger Hindsman Accepting his "New Ranger of the Year" Award

URC staff interviewed Matias while he was working on yard clean-up one day in July. Below are the answers to his questions.

1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I think I’m really intellegent. I like to think things out.

2. Why did you want to be a part of the Urban Ranger Corps?
Initially to make money, and to help our society.

3. What do you hope to accomplish this summer?
Perfect attendance in the program.

4. How do you feel about the Urban Ranger Corps so far?
I think it’s a good program for people who have nothing to do over the summer and it could better me and my fellow rangers.

5. What are your plans for the future?
To become a doctor/surgeon.

6. How do you like to spend your free time?
I like to read books.

7. Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I can be really funny.

8. What are your greatest strengths?
My intellegence.

9. What are your greatest weaknesses?
Anything in the athletic arena.

10. If you were president of the United States, what would you change?
I would make the price of alcohol rise because most of the casualties that happen in the U.S. are caused by alcohol.

11. What is your favorite color? Why?
Green. It’s a unique color.

Ranger Hindsman working hard in the yard of a community member.

One such alum is Ranger Days. Days began his time with the Urban Rangers back in 2007 when he was a freshman in High School. He completed the program after four successful years and graduated from the 2010 summer session. For the 2011 summer session, Days was asked to come work for the URC as a Program Support staff.

In addition to demonstrating an excellent work ethic, proficiency and reliability, Ranger Days also excelled in his academic studies. After graduating from High School in 2010, he continued his studies at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He is currently in his second year of studies and is pursuing a degree in Business with an emphasis in Marketing. He hopes to work in the Advertising field after graduating.

Ranger Days has been an extraordinary addition to the URC program. Below you will find two essays he wrote which speak of his experience as an Urban Ranger. This first is from 2008:

“My first year at Urban Rangers was a new experience for me. It was my first job so I was willing to do anything to get money. I assumed we would be working on and painting homes all day because that is what was in the job’s description. But little did I know I what I was getting into.

That third Monday in the month of June I came to the headquarters ready to work. I walked into a room of unfamiliar faces of teenage boys just like me. Upon meeting the owner of the Urban Rangers, Father John Wandless, I was introduced to a new element that I was not aware Urban Rangers had incorporated into their program. We were shown cadence, and military style marching. I immediately felt I was in the wrong place.

That whole first week was basically a boot camp for the rest of the summer. We went on countless hikes, marching and singing in cadence all through the neighborhoods. The team leaders kept us under strict discipline breaking us down as individuals and building us up as a team. They also broadened our horizons with different field trips and a challenge to find Kaufman Gardens from Troost Observatory. I experienced more in that first week than most in that summer.

We didn’t actually see our homes until the middle of the second week. Working on our homes was just a small part of the Urban Rangers programs. Our leaders worked to better us young men and we young men worked to better our community. From being with my teammates that summer I gained lifelong friendships. I am now looking to enter my third year as an Urban Ranger. I do not regret any of the experiences I have had at Urban Rangers, for they have made me stronger and an overall better person. I am now prepared for the corporate world.”

The second article was written while he was a ranger in 2009:

“The Urban Ranger program has grown and improved each year I have returned. One change from the past is that instead of the trip we normally take to Wildwood, we went to a similar place called Ironwoods Park. At Ironwoods, the rangers and I rose to the challenge of climbing a 50 foot tower. As each of us went up we relied on the help of our teammates to keep us stay safe from falling that same 50 feet to the ground.

This year also I had the opportunity to go on the first out-of-state trip organized by the Rangers. Our destination was Manderson, South Dakota. The purpose of the trip was to clean and paint a church and a few other buildings on an Indian Reservation. Upon arriving on the Reservation, my fellow rangers, team leaders, and I all wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. It was a true eye opener but as the days went on we all grew to like the Reservation and built close relationships with the Native Americans. We were able to experience things most people will never be able to including a sweat, playing ball with the natives, a trip to Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, and work with the descendents of legendary Indians. It was truly a great experience.

Urban Rangers has been more to me than my first job. It has prepared me for the journey into the real work force I will soon take. The Rangers have taught me how to be on time, dress appropriately, speak in the proper manner using ma’am or sir, listen to my supervisors, and not to forget how to march. As a third year Ranger I can’t think of anything better than what I would have been doing with my summers. Urban Rangers is an extraordinary program with extraordinary leaders.”

URC is very proud you Ranger Days. We look forward to hearing about your exciting future endeavors!

Ranger Hickman with Mr. Cooper at Graduation

Ranger Hickman is in his second year as a ranger. As an older more experienced ranger, he was fortunate enough to attend a work-trip to New Mexico this past summer. He is very grateful for the eye-opening experience and the lessons he learned.

The answers to his interview questions are listed below. The interview took place on a day in July while he was busy painting a house.

1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I like to play football. I have two little brothers. I’m a hard worker, very responsible. My hobby is cars. I like to paint them.

2. Why did you want to be a part of the Urban Ranger Corps?
To help out around the house, to help my mom. To have this job under my belt for future jobs.

3. What do you hope to accomplish this summer?
I want to buy a car and put some money towards college.

4. How do you feel about the Urban Ranger Corps so far?
It’s cool.

5. What are your plans for the future?
To go to college, get a good career, maybe get married, just be successful.

6. How do you like to spend your free time?
On the computer or watching TV.

7. Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I’m funny.

8. What are your greatest strengths?
I’m good at outside work and inside work like remodeling stuff.

9. What are your greatest weaknesses?
Math, public speaking.

10. If you were president of the United States, what would you change?
Figure out how to fix social security.

11. What is your favorite color? Why?
Red.

Ranger Harris with Mr. Cooper at Graduation

1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I like music, I play trumpet in the Salvation Army, I like football, I like to read a bible.

2. Why did you want to be a part of the Urban Ranger Corps?
To make money over the summer.

3. What do you hope to accomplish this summer?
Life skills, painting, handy-work.

4. How do you feel about the Urban Ranger Corps so far?
It’s kind of fun, it’s cool.

5. What are your plans for the future?
Go to the Navy, become a police officer or related job.

6. How do you like to spend your free time?
Hanging out with brothers, playing sports, sleeping.

7. Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I’m a Christian.

8. What are your greatest strengths?
Talking to people when they need help or have problems.

9. What are your greatest weaknesses?
Math

10. If you were president of the United States, what would you change?
The way the government is ran because they control most of our money and Americans don’t get everything they need.

11. What is your favorite color? Why?
Blue- I like looking at the sky.

Well said Ranger Harris. Thank you for a hard-working summer, we look forward to next year!

Ranger Freeman is in his first year with the Urban Ranger Corps. He enjoys art, especially drawing, and hopes to be an artist some day. The following interview took place at the Urban Rangers Headquarters in the last week of the summer session.

1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I like the job and playing football, I work out a lot.

2. Why did you want to be a part of the Urban Ranger Corps?
I wanted a job and I like working on houses and stuff.

3. What do you hope to accomplish this summer?
Getting up for work.

4. How do you feel about the Urban Ranger Corps so far?
They good.

5. What are your plans for the future?
To be an artist.

6. How do you like to spend your free time?
Practicing drawings, I practice by drawing myself in the mirror.

7. Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
That I know how to draw.

8. What are your greatest strengths?
Football, art, playing with my dogs and stuff.

9. What are your greatest weaknesses?
Playing basketball. I can shoot and stuff but I’m not that good.

10. If you were president of the United States, what would you change?
That you can have pitt bulls.

11. What is your favorite color? Why?
Black.

Ranger Esdridge with Mr. Cooper at graduation

1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m outgoing sometimes, cool, laid back. I’m lazy sometimes and I’m a people person.

2. Why did you want to be a part of the Urban Ranger Corps?
They get paid good money.

3. What do you hope to accomplish this summer?
Save up some money and hopefully I’ll learn something.

4. How do you feel about the Urban Ranger Corps so far?
It’s cool.

5. What are your plans for the future?
Hopefully get a scholarship for sports.

6. How do you like to spend your free time?
Go to a friends house, facebook, twitter, not into gaming as much anymore.

7. Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I want to be in WWE wrestling.

8. What are your greatest strengths?
Writing.

9. What are your greatest weaknesses?
Paying attention, comprehending.

10. If you were president of the United States, what would you change?
Gas prices.

11. What is your favorite color? Why?
Green, because I liked it when I was a little kid.

Ranger Eskridge with Fr. Wandless

1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I work at URC, play football, after football go to sleep at night, go to 24 and workout with friends, help mom around the house, sometimes I go to church.

2. Why did you want to be a part of the Urban Ranger Corps?
Stay out of trouble and violence and keep some change in the bank. Mostly to stay out of the streets.

3. What do you hope to accomplish this summer?
To get a car.

4. How do you feel about the Urban Ranger Corps so far?
It’s really helped me with communication and working with others. It feels good to help other people.

5. What are your plans for the future?
Go to he NFL. If I don’t make it to the NFL, I’d like to have my own lawn business.

6. How do you like to spend your free time?
Going to 24-hour fitness and working out and playing football.

7. Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
When I was little I picked up a mouse and almost ate it.

8. What are your greatest strengths?
I’m good at squats, lifting stuff, I can jump really high for someone that’s short.

9. What are your greatest weaknesses?
Not that good at swimming.

10. If you were president of the United States, what would you change?
Raise taxes on oil companies and pharmaceutical companies.

11. What is your favorite color? Why?
Orange, it’s my mom’s favorite color and red because I like it.

Ranger Davis is a second year Ranger. After graduating from high school, he plans to go to college and evenutally own his own business. He was interviewed by URC staff while he was painting a house one hot day in July. Below are the answers to his questions.

1. Tell me a little about yourself.
I live with my mother, borther and sister. I’m 16, I went to Hogan and O’hara. I get decent grades, love playing football and basketball. I just started communicating with my daddy.

2. Why did you want to be a part of the Urban Ranger Corps?
I thought it would be a positive program. It keeps me out of trouble, they pay good, and [for] experience when I’m older.

3. What do you hope to accomplish this summer?
Getting a car.

4. How do you feel about the Urban Ranger Corps so far?
I like it. Better than last year.

5. What are your plans for the future?
Having a career, own my own business, be my own boss. Be a cars salesperson.

6. How do you like to spend your free time?
Spend time with my family, play sports.

7. Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I’m only 16. Don’t nobody know how old I am becuase I don’t look 16.

8. What are your greatest strengths?
I have a great influence on the people I hang around with.

9. What are your greatest weaknesses?
History.

10. What is your favorite color? Why?
Red, it looks good on me.