The children wrote stories about asking for help. About a hippo who cannot learn to read. About a family struggling with addiction. About a doctor who is afraid of the color of children’s eyes. About the terror of asking a girl to dance. And then they told their stories, full of vulnerability, and they listened to each other. I suppose it seems like a simple enough thing, but it’s not. What happens at Still Waters in a Storm is beautiful. It’s also deeply important, because it gives these children the space to express themselves, to learn, and to succeed. If only there were more places like this for children.

Phil Klay