I live on South Navidad Street and I am an after school art teacher at the nonprofit, San Antonio Cultural Arts, just two blocks down from where I stay. I walk to work, noticing every tree, every cat, dog, vine living and breathing on my path.

A Day in the Life

I switch to the street, watching out for needles on the ground. I get to the corner store and see the elders in the alley on their walkers taking a rest. I nod my head and say hello. They say hello to me and my son.

My son, 10 years old, comes with me to work. We share this vision that one day they will be an artist when they grow up. We come in, cool off and get ready for the after school kids to arrive.

A knock at the door — It’s Dessert, a houseless community member who asks us for some applesauce and a T-shirt. Like many others on our block, she is hungry, hot and houseless. I offer her water, make her a sandwich and give her one of our T-shirts.

Class starts at 3:30 p.m., but students start knocking at 3:15. I open the door with a smile, regardless of how I really feel that day. They come in and I make them sandwiches and slice apples and make koolaid.

Art and Community

Quickly the classroom becomes chaos. Paint, popcorn, giggles and banter. There I am, dizzy in the thick of it, careful to tend to each student’s interests and needs. With a glue gun and cardboard we can make anything!

Now it’s 5:00 p.m. and time to clean up. Together we pick up chip bags and paint cups. Another day of art done! I head home and the world looks different this time. It’s sundown. Now, it’s time for my second shift — my personal art time.

Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.