“The directive is personal renewal,” explained JESSE Student Program Coordinator Dave Walker. “It’s not necessarily for finding ways to make more interesting educational studies or plans but to reprogram your batteries. You have to make the commitment that you'll be back and involved in the field you were following (afterward).”
Walker has worked for years helping children that have experienced major trauma and mental illness and has been in the general field for 28 years.
“I worked for a residential treatment center, worked as a private therapist for children and was a house parent,” he explained of his employment ventures prior to filling the position at JESSE (Joint Educational Services for Special Education).
Persons interested in revitalizing themselves in creative ways were to have their proposals turned in by Nov. 9 and recipients were notified in early March.
“You had to describe what you were doing and why, submit a game plan and budget,” Walker explained. “And it had to be focused on something you feel passionate about. Mine was titled, ‘Unchain My Heart.’”
Walker explained that he and his wife had done some traveling in the past, through Atlantic City, New Jersey and visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains, but that to him, business chains made the landscape unattractive.
“If you go on any Interstate you could pull off anywhere and it will look exactly the same,” Walker said. “America has become dependant on chains and there’s no heart or soul to it. There is nothing to discern that you are in another region.”
Walker intends to take his wife of 29 years, Angie, newly hired as a resource coordinator for Hospice and previously employed at Cardinal Center, on the month-long road trip. On June 27, riding his 1996 Harley Davidson Heritage Softtail Classic and starting off from U.S. 6, they will attempt to avoid all interstates and major highways. The Walkers will travel up and around through Maine with a directive that may be a bit of a challenge — all while not using any chain-type businesses, using only local, small business, mom-and-pop establishments to sleep, eat, replenish their supplies and refuel.
“The hardest part will be trying to find independent gas stations,” said Walker, who admintted he may have to break down to purchase from them to accomplish the task and continue the trip.
Walker said that throughout the journey, he will prepare a brief summary for the Lilly Endowment Inc. and will post an online journal for kids that are interested in following him along the way.
“I’ll have a daily blog including my impressions and experiences,” he said.
His love for the land is obvious and his love for helping children is not only proven in the many he has helped along the way but because it has spread to two of his three children. The youngest plans to be involved in telecommunications after graduating from Ball State while the Walkers’ middle child is pursuing an educational degree and their oldest is employed as a social caseworker.
In 2008, 128 Indiana educators were chosen from more than 700 applications to receive the Lilly Endowment Inc. Teacher Creativity Fellowships.
The seven “distinguished fellows” who received up to $25,000 and the remaining 121 who received $8,000 for their endeavors will travel to at least 25 states and 22 countries.
More information regarding the program can be found at
www.lillyfoundation.org .
