11:15
I was on my way to the Salem administrative council meeting when I noted balloons, and signs, and quite a few people in from of the church. On getting close I see that the balloons say “I [heart] school choice” and that the title of the event is “Harlem Education Fair.” People are going into the community hall beneath the sanctuary through the basement entrance on Lenox. I follow.

The room is absolutely full with three or four rows of tables with representative from many schools. I am asked to write my name down, given a stick-on button also saying “I [heart] school choice.” I am also asked to sign a release because of some video documentary being shot for the Harlem Success Academy Charter School.

{given how crowded the place in, I must assume that everyone signed this long (one single-space page) release stating that one gives “absolute permission and rights to use the videotape for the purposes of the school”. This has to be interesting}

I cannot stay long given that I do not want to be late at the other meeting. As I meander I see the principal of Corpus Christi School whom I know through my affiliation with the parish. He tells me that the event was organized by Harlem Parents United and that they sent 15,000 invitations [where/how did they get the list?]. He is busy and I move on. On my way out I pick up two flyers.