Roosevelt Islander Jim Luce’s notes, on the fly, are casually enthusiastic. They betray the powerful impact that he and his foundations achieve in their work. But we’ll try putting it in perspective.
by David Stone
for The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The Saraswati School Opening
“We will rise at six for an 8 o’clock Opening Cremony,” Luce texted The Daily. “Indian apparel has been measured and arranged and will be delivered in the morning.”
“A tailor is working all night to deliver it. I understand there will be three Hindu priests and a crowd of about 300. High ranking Tibetan Buddhist monks will also be in attendance, along as many of our Muslim team members. Bix Is being acknowledged as my partner in large banners and in the program.
“We drove out 20 minutes to the suburbs to see it tonight. It is a hive of workers setting it up.
“Children on the road outside are happy, barefoot and dirty. I asked who they were, and we’re informed that they were my students. Tomorrow they will be well groomed and wearing our school uniform for their first day of education.”
An “incredible” breakthrough…
But this trip is far from over, and there’s already a big breakthrough…
“I just brokered an exchange program with the Manjushree orphanage 8000 feet up in the Himalayan mountains. We will send 50 kids to them and they will send 50 of the kids to us. The Buddhists will learn about Hinduism and the Hindus will learn about Buddhism. Incredible.”
We will continue with these stories as Jim Luce’s team continues the stretch from Roosevelt Island to high up in the Himalayas.
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What the Promenade Remembers
The light on the East River in the early morning is different from the light anywhere else on the Island. It comes in low and sideways, catching the water in long, uneven flashes. On certain days it makes the promenade feel less like a walkway and more like a corridor someone once meant to finish but never quite did. When I was younger I found the suggestion to stop and look at it faintly ridiculous.
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