[Ringing Telephone]
>>> Calling 311. This is Eboni.
See that you're calling about a teacher?
>>> Yes. I was a teacher in East Harlem 25 years
ago with teenagers and I'd like to reconnect with them.
Is there a way that I can get their records or
something that I could find them again?
♪ [Music] ♪
[Clock Ticking]
♪ [Piano Music Playing] ♪
[Sound of Sweeping up Tiles]
>>> The management sent up someone to fix this
supposedly who knew nothing about plumbing.
Instead of sending up a plumber. And was the
cause of the tremendous flood in my apartment.
The whole place is in a mess.
[Vacuuming]
[Hammering]
[Sounds of Sweeping up Tiles]
[Sounds of Sweeping up Tiles] [Ticking Clock]
[Ticking Clock]
♪ [Kids Singing] ♪
[Ticking Clock]
[Music from the Television]
>>> It's DVD?
>>> With plenty of encouragement from the teachers,
the students express themselves through poetry.
[Rapping] >>> Don't use drugs, it's bad for you --
Cigarettes and alcohol that's included too.
Like Doctor Jekyll and Mr. High --
[Book Drops]
[Ticking Clock]
[Dial Tone]
>>> Hello and thank you for calling 311 in
New York City. We're here to help. Now, briefly tell me
what I can help you with this afternoon.
>>> Hello. Hello. I am a teacher.
[Phone Ringing]
>>> Calling 311. This is Eboni.
See that you're about a teacher?
>>> Yes. I was a teacher in East Harlem 25 years
ago with teenagers, and I'd like to reconnect with them.
Is there a way that I can get their records or
something that I could find them again?
>>> Um, was this in a public school?
>>> Yes.
>>> Okay. One moment. 142nd West 115th,
West 67th and West 118th.
>>> Okay. So this -- it's too far back. Is that it?
>>> Yeah, maybe because it's too far back. Yes, ma'am.
>>> It's awfully nice that you're trying.
>>> You're welcome and good luck and thank you
for calling 311. You have a great evening.
>>> Okay.
>>> Bye bye.
>>> Bye.
[Ticking Clock] [Cuckoo Clock]
[City Sounds]
[Ringing Telephone]
>>> And the basement, we had put a panel in because there
were spider webs and roaches. I had to vacuum every day.
>>> And when I went there, did everything, so now if
you go there, you won't even recognize it.
>>> We had a rapper who couldn't read or write.
>>> It was a predominantly Puerto Rican.
Have you tried Facebook?
[Ringing Telephone]
>>> So Zee. Do you know what Facebook is?
>>> Um, well -- Okay, you try to explain it to me.
It's communication. It's a way of communicating
to whoever you want. My fear was that you're also
communicating to whomever you don't want as well.
>>> Kids know how to do this. Very few people have
a landline in their house. They have cell phones,
and they have internet and this is how they communicate.
Okay. Okay, so. So first you put on a photo.
So now we're going to open up the photo.
We're going to use that photo. Your email address? Zee18.
What year were you born?
>>> Um... '31
>>> So here you go. This is your page, Zee.
You're tight there.
>>> Let's look for Melvin. He was our rapper.
Coleman, C O. L. E.
Whoa!
>>> Yeah. There's a lot of Melvin Coleman's.
>>> He has to be about 14 plus 25.
>>> Okay. So, I don't know. I don't think so.
I think this one's too old. Do any of these look familiar?
>>> Let me go --
>>> Yup. Get the right glasses now.
Do you think this is him?
>>> Yum, yum, yeah. And uh, his face didn't
change that much, which is a wonderful face.
>>> Beautiful.
>>> Isn't he?
>>> Good Lord. Do you think it's him?
>>> Yes. Definitely.
>>> Okay.
[Birds Chirping]
>>> Hello!
>>> I cannot believe this.
>>> Long time no see. [Chuckling]
>>> Oh my God.
>>> Wow. It's a long time. I remember you used to
look down at me. Now I'm looking down.
>>> Hi.
>>> This is Gigi.
>>> I knew someday, I knew you would make it.
>>> Thank you.
>>> If you know how he used to come into my room,
I have something I have to let it out. Melvin, I have
a whole group I'm working with. It can't wait.
I said, are you going to need to stir up anyone?
And he said, no, I just need back up. I need this,
I need that. And I said, put away your books. [Laughing]
Right? Do you remember that?
>>> Right. [Agreeing]
>>> He was my favorite student.
>>> Wow, thank you.
>>> And you have long hair in the back.
>>> Yeah.
>>> Okay.
>>> I grew my hair out.
>>> Let me see. You're beautiful.
>>> You didn't have glasses right? Take off your glasses.
>>> You're gorgeous.
>>> Thank you.
>>> You didn't lose your humanity, and you were honest.
>>> Always trying to be like that.
>>> You were dramatic. [Laughing Together]
>>> When you were my teacher in school,
I appreciate you for that. Thank you. You know,
got me a long way. My music, you know, it helped me
calm myself down. You know, it helped me,
you know, guide my, my life actually by me writing my
songs and everything like that.
>>> How can't you love him?
>>> You're family, always.
>>> Do you remember this?
>>> Wow.
>>> Don't use drugs, it's bad for you. Cigarettes and alcohol
that's included too. Like Doctor Jekyll and Mr. High
went downtown on a cargo line.
Mr. High went to a ball, smoking some cigarettes
and drinking alcohol. So Dr. Jekyll said to him,
"Stay in school. Don't be no fool."
>>> So here at the Key School the students have
found out they're going to be on the bookshelves with
a lot of other famous people. Ronald Reagan,
Mikhail Gorbachev, plenty of people from the stage
and screen and all around the world. Their book will
be on exhibit, and as you can see, they also have a
wonderful product to show for all of their creative efforts.
For Community Line, I'm Tom O'Hanlon.
>>> Well, some people, they just do it for the money.
They just want a paycheck, and that's it.
You, you were different. You didn't see your paycheck.
I needed singers, so I told a certain set to sing,
I needed somebody to hit the table. You allowed me to
let them hit the table. You allowed me to really
make a orchestra and everybody come together
and really make me see the music that was in my head
and then bringing it to life. You helped me
become who I am today.
[City Sounds]
♪ [Piano Music Playing] ♪
[Car Engine]
[City Sounds]
[Applause]
[Crowd Talking]
♪ [Singing] ♪
[City Sounds]
>>> I'm still climbing. [Laughing]
>>> Let's go! We're climbing higher and higher.
[All Laughing Together]
>>> Farewell! Enjoy!
♪ [Piano Music Playing]