Look Who I Found: Dear Ms. Drish

Leslie J. Drish was appointed Director of Education for the Chicago Urban League in December 2005. She manages the operations for all of the League�s educational programs including: the Youth Investor/Entrepreneur Project, Nulites, Scholarships and Goal Power.

Prior to joining the League Leslie served as teacher services manager in the Education Department at the John G. Shedd Aquarium, where she redesigned the Aiming for CPS Excellence in Science program, resulting in a two-year grant with a major funding foundation; increased teacher participation in programs by 35 percent; and increased departmental income by 50 percent. In addition, Drish has served as an English teacher at Morgan Park High School and as project executive/special events coordinator for Honee Earth, LLC, among other past positions. She is a member of the Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League, one of the League�s four all-volunteer auxiliaries, where she has served as corresponding secretary. She currently serves on the board for Diversifying Faculty in Illinois.

Leslie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and English from DePaul University. Leslie earned both a Master of Public Administration degree and a Master of Educational Leadership degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago and National Louis University respectively.

Ms. Drish!!!

The universe is such a tiny place and only gets smaller in Chicago. I don’t know if you remember me but I’m the tall skinny kid that did that crazy presentation in your Literature class my senior year, 2002. Also for our 10 page research paper I wrote about poetry.—remember?—maybe?—remember?

Well, I have always wondered what happened to you after bumping into you on the street several years ago. I was working for the Chicago Children’s Choir, at their Ben&Jerry’s ice cream shop on State and Randolph, next door to the Oriental Theater, and you walked by my shop early one morning, before the start of business. I stopped you and we briefly chatted, you gave me your card. You were working for the Shedd Aquarium at the time in their educational department and no sooner did I want to use that card, dial you up, and have lunch with you did I realize I misplaced your number. In my senior year book you wrote:

Ken—

You are by far one of the most creative & unique and intellectual individuals I have ever met. It’s really refreshing to know someone who is really true to themselves.

Great Luck<--I know that sounds strange… but take care.You’re a great person!

Love,

Ms. Drish

Flash forward to the present I’m a recent graduate of Columbia College Chicago. I graduated this past May with a BA in Fiction Writing/English. I found your email address performing a very routine Job Hunt. Someone had suggested I contact the Chicago Urban League and as I was perusing their website I saw on the bottom of the screen the email to a Leslie Drish. The one and only, wouldn’t you agree? So this email was written out of genuine excitement! How are things going with you, Ms. Drish? Shall we do lunch?

Sincerely,

Ken R. Williams