Wanda J. Evans Purple Petals, Bruised Flowers: a Mentor's Journey

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Purple Petals Bruised Flowers "A Mentors Journey"-a blend of poetry and prose that chronicles lessons learned the first year of establishing a support group for teen girls experiencing or exposed to intimate partner abuse inside a public high school in Chicago. Wanda Evans writes a compelling memoir, which takes a direct look at the growth, and healing that can occur when everyday people step forward and share their own insecurities, frailties, and pain. It explores the indescribable successes and the unpredictable letdowns of a teacher that saw a problem and said no to overtime and yes to mentoring, only to discover that just because one decides to do outreach does not mean that youth will automatically reach back. What started as an uphill struggle evolved into something to fight for, and ultimately lead to greater wisdom and understanding of the complexities of mentoring and the human heart.