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Shoestring
Profile: Edward McLaurin
 Art
instructor Edward McLaurin is a major part of our Operation
Shoestring team. A Millsaps Major part, that is.
Edward,
who graduated from Millsaps College last May, started helping
out at Shoestring his freshman year, when he tutored children
as part of his college work-study program. Renowned local
artist Lea Barton, a fellow Millsaps alum who was teaching
art classes at Shoestring, took Edward under her wing.
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"Lea
and I talked a lot," recalls Edward. "She told me that she might
need someone to help her with the art classes at some point. Near
the end of my sophomore year I became Lea's assistant for a while."
After
Edward graduated, and after some time away from Shoestring, he
got back in touch with Barton, who told him she was ready for
someone to take over some of her teaching responsibilities. He
jumped at the chance.
"I
teach the kids the basics of art, including drawing and painting,
as well as exposing them to the work of other artists," Edward
says. "I hope to introduce them to sculpture sometime soon. Mainly,
I want the kids to see and appreciate the great diversity in art."
"When
I learned he was an art major, he came to one of my Shoestring
art classes and brought some of his paintings and talked about
his work," says Barton. "That good impression continues today,
reinforced with the knowledge of his artistry. He's a pleasure
and treasure to work with.
"I
was impressed from the beginning with Edward as a person and an
artist, and that impression has only gotten stronger over time,"
says Barton. "Edward is excellent with the students, both one-on-one
and as a group. They respond positively to him. He takes his artwork
seriously as well as his teaching. He takes the students seriously
and wants to see them do well. For me he is our new jewel at Shoestring!"
Edward
grew up in the small town of Sharon, Mississippi (north of Canton).
He majored in studio art at Millsaps, with a minor in religious
studies. In addition to his work at Shoestring, Edward also works
for a pharmaceutical marketing firm and a frame shop. He's an
active artist as well, specializing in portraiture.
"Edward
has a great way with our kids, and he seems to really know his
stuff," says Shoestring executive director Robert Langford. "He
also has the advantage of being a recent college graduate, and
so he has great energy and ideas that smart young adults bring
to a task. We are so pleased to have him here."
Edward
sounds equally - majorly, even - pleased to be at Operation Shoestring.
"I
love the atmosphere, the energy that these kids have," he says.
"They go to classes all day, and yet they still want to learn
when they get here after school. That gives me the drive to want
to share my knowledge with them. People should never stop learning,
especially kids, but the rest of us, too."
If
I could pick another career: "I'd like to work as an art director
at a large marketing company."
Career
I wouldn't want: "I don't know… Garbage man?"
Role
model: "The females in my family… my mom, my aunties, and
my sisters. They raised me to be strong."
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