Author Encourages Development of Empathy and Intellect

The Middle School community welcomed Charlise Lyles ’77 on Monday September 26. She visited the seventh grade Humanities classes to read from her memoir, Do I Dare Disturb the Universe: From the Projects to Prep School. Her reading connected to the Civil Rights curriculum and tied to students’ summer reading of the Little Rock Nine memoir, Warriors Don’t Cry, by Melba Patillo Beals. She shared with students her experience of growing up in the projects of Cleveland and the challenges faced while attending Hawken Upper School during the first years of co-education - as well as the marvelous opportunities those years presented. 
 

Ms. Lyles then kicked off a theme week in the middle school chapel assembly by addressing the student body for 20 minutes. The theme for the week was intellect. She shared how her father ignited deep “Why?” and “How?” questioning during one-on-one book discussions that went far beyond simple memory of story details.  She used those experiences to deepen her development of analytic thinking abilities while taking classes at Hawken. In her presentation she encouraged students to think creatively, engage in dialogue, respect diversity, and incorporate sound character while tackling the challenges of our changing global relationships and economy.

During her visit to Hawken, Ms. Lyles also visited the Gates Mills campus to work with Upper School students and addressed members of the Hawken community, University Circle neighbors and partners, and the Cleveland educational community at an evening event at Hawken's Gries Center in University Circle.