There is a man named Kevin Livingston who decided to gift 100 young men on the streets of New York with suits. He believes that if they see themselves differently, worthy of respect, it will impact their lifestyle. He planted himself and a rack of coats around the corner from a gang hang out, and started talking. It took some convincing that there was no catch. He gradually lured the boys closer to slip their arms into the sleeves, to learn how to tie a tie, to look him in the eyes and shake his hand firmly. 

The idea caught on. Celebrities donated from their bursting closets. Others gave money. Kevin has continued, widening the choices of people who had almost none. Hopefully it is a crucial step for those men/boys walking in to an interview. Finding a job can be the bridge from loitering to earning a paycheck. 

My ambitions were more modest when I invited the graduating senior boys to come pick out a tux to wear. Last week a young man and his father came and looked through the fifty tuxes in the costume room, and walked out with something to feel proud in. 

"I'll clap for you," I said as they left. 

The whole purpose of the costume collection is to change how wearers see themselves. How others look at them. I am thick into sewing Harem pants, to transform young girls into Arabian princesses. Young boys into a genie, and a prince. A seamstress donated a box of beaded trim that will make forty kids feel like swinging their hips just to hear it jangle. The dance team performs with more energy in leotards and swirly skirts than they would in overalls and a hoodie.

I like that we can choose to put on what we hope to be, and sometimes it truly fits.