For much of the next two years, Ryan Whisner will be on a sailboat traveling as the eyes and ears of underprivileged students in Chicago.
Whisner, a 2001 Clarkston High Graduate, is working with Reach the World, a non-profit organization based in New York City that brings global awareness and adventure to New York and now Chicago public schools.
‘Our main mission is to enhance (student) global awareness and do that through technology. A lot of these kids live in Chicago and haven’t even seen Lake Michigan,? said Whisner.
Working as part of a six person crew, Whisner will sail around the world starting in Fall 2006. The crew will stop at destinations around the world and reporting what they find to Chicago school children grades second to sixth through research and articles posted on-line. The voyage stops during summer breaks and concludes in 2008.
Students follow the crew along the way completing curriculam-based projects and assignments produced through collaboration of teachers in Chicago and crew members. The students engage in learning activities
‘There was a push to get technology into schools, now the problem is utilizing that technology. A lot of the computers are just sitting there. It’s taking those resources there and making it worthwhile. We want to prepare people from underprivileged backgrounds and schools to become global citizens and leaders.?
The group is now working on raising funds to help pay for the trip, which will make holding jobs impossible for the crew. Whisner, a financial analyst for JPMorgan Securities, Inc. since last August intends to quit his job in the fall.
‘We are currently in the middle of a fund-raising campaign,? said Whisner.
He explained the group has a goal of raising $250,000, most of which will cover the voyage.
‘The great part is I don’t really know what it’ll be like. I know it’ll be challenging in terms of sailing and living with five other people in a small confined space for two years,? said Whisner. ‘We’ll learn a lot about team work.?
During the voyage, besides breaks when school is out, Whisner said the group will rotate with one or two crew members staying in Chicago to coordinate efforts with teachers and fund-raising. He was unsure whether or not a sailing captain from outside the group would join the crew.
‘I’m going into it with an open mind knowing it will be really exciting and I’ll come back a new person,? said Whisner.
While a current expedition by a team with Reach the World New York is sailing on the Makulu, a 43-foot sailboat, Whisner said his group does not yet have a boat and no exact itinerary is set.
‘Chances are about 90 percent that we will be leaving from Chicago and then motoring down the Mississippi. Otherwis,e we would leave from the east coast. Either way, our first destination is the Caribbean,? said Whisner.
Serving as a development coordinator for the project, Whisner predicts the whole crew will share responsibilities equally at sea although one of his areas of expertise is photography.
The idea to get involved with an educational sailing program started with Whisner and five friends who attended Northwestern University and were part of the sailing team.
According to Whisner, the group came up with the idea collectively, but his coursework for his bachelor’s degree in education and social policy discussed the racial aspect and socioeconomic gaps in elementary and secondary education in this country.
The group, five of whom including Whisner, graduated last June, started their own company called Tradewinds, Inc. in 2004. While researching this type of work, the group came across Reach the World.
‘In us being friends and talking, we all knew we didn’t want to do the normal route. We wanted to do something special and have a unique experience that would benefit society,? said Whisner.
‘After talking with them about their experiences, we realized we should combine efforts,? said Whisner.
While the team has little experience with ocean sails, Whisner said they intend to practice this summer on some extended voyages either from Chicago to the Upper Peninsula or on an ocean.
Other than sailing a small boat on summer vacations at the family cottage in Northern Michigan, Whisner lacked sailing experience until joining the sailing team at NWU his sophomore year. Over the summers at school, he gained experience racing 30 foot boats on Lake Michigan.
Whisner’s parents Mac and Marilyn still live in Independence Township.
Those wishing to learn more about Reach the World can visit www.reachtheworld.org. To donate to the cause, call Whisner at 224-420-0576 or e-mail him at ryan@reachtheworld.org. More information about donating can also be found through group member Ashley Metz at 847-951-4711.