Throughout that time, you get to see the full arch of the Circle of Life, from babies being born, attending school, becoming teenagers and eventually taking on the role and responsibilities of being an adult. And for some, passing away to the next level of existence.

My role as an instructor for the PEOPLE Program’s three-week summer workshops had been a beautiful perch to see young people grow. My course was Exploring College through Media. I would take students on field trips to places like Oscar Mayer and the UW Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. The students would take photos and write about the role models of color whom they would meet during those excursions. And we produced a print paper called The Diversity Times and distribute them to the rest of the people Program middle school students.

One of my students was Julian Walters, the same Julian Walters whom I featured on last issue’s cover as a Home-Grown Developer. He has used his learned skills and life experiences to put together a project that will build Park Lofts on the corner of S. Park Street and Olin Avenue. It will include housing for foster kids aging out of the system and affordable housing. I can’t help but feel that the purpose and soul of this project was forged growing up in South Madison. I am so proud of him.

And then just two days ago, on Tuesday, July 29^th — it feels like it was ages ago — I went to a media briefing for the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce’s Black Restaurant Week at Creative Events. To be honest, it was hard getting up the muster to go because I was tired and I had a press deadline less than two days later. But through the loving coaxing of the Black Chamber staff, I went.

I’m glad I went. The food of the five Black restaurateurs was so good and the servings more than a taste that I didn’t have to worry about dinner that night. But the absolute treat of the day was seeing Kingsley-Reine Pissang. She is the daughter of Camille Carter, the Black Chamber’s CEO. Kingsley was also one of my PEOPLE Program middle school students back in the day. I had lost track of her since she did a stint driving the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile around the Midwest. She helped to produce The Diversity Times as well. I was pleased to see that she is involved in doing social media for a project at Harvard University where she is also earning her master’s degree. I am so proud of Kingsley as well.

And then there is the sunset part of the Circle of Life. As you probably have heard by now, Dr. Perry Henderson passed away a few weeks ago. Having been a community journalist who has taken tens of thousands of photos over the past quarter century and written what seems like countless stories and columns, I have become a quasi-historian as well.

And so I sent over to his daughter Jasmine about 50 photos of their dad and family. I also sent her three stories that I did with Perry. One was when Perry was Regional Governor for Rotary. One was a father-daughter doctor feature with Perry and his daughter Sheryl. And the third was a discussion back in 2009 about the state of America’s healthcare system in light of the push for healthcare reform championed by newly-elected President Barack Obama.

Although it was inevitable, it was still a sad moment to see Perry pass because he had been such a kind and strong pillar of the community.

I played a minor copy editing and fact checking role with the family as they wrote Perry’s obituary, their story of Perry’s life. And as I laid out the obituary for this issue of The Hues — it’s on P. 15 — I saw all of the obituaries that I had previously published. Dr. James Jones and Perry’s wife, Dr. Virginia Ruth were there. Juan José López’s was there along with that of Velma Ritcherson and too many others. It was a sad moment as I added Perry’s obituary to the subfolder.

The Circle of Life continues on. Appreciate those you love with every passing moment.