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Next time, she rode ir like the rest of the kids." As the kids open up to each other, they play trust games, share personal stories around the evening campfires and attend cowboy church services. Many return every year, and some become junior wranglers who mentor newcomers. “One kid, A 1 Ferrell, who started with us when he was 13, is now head chef at Amtrak,” McMeel says proudly. His mom, Charlotte Ferrell, a human ser vices worker and youth minister from San Pedro, Calif., started bringing groups of inner-city kids from her church to the first Inner City Slickers program in 1993. ‘Tve seen Inner City Slickers get kids who came with prejudices to cooperate as a team and cheer each other on,” Ferrell says. “Most programs take much longer to accomplish what Michael’s does in six hours." Melissa Douglas, 14, of Los Angeles, came to the program in 2004. She ini ■ a fX* W. ' |BE"-' 44® JwM Pfe-i Activities like the “trust foil” build confidence. tially was scared of playing a trust game in which she had to climb a ladder, fold her arms and fall backward into her friends’ arms. "1 was afraid they wouldn’t catch me,” Douglas says. Afterward, she admits, “I learned to trust just a little bit more." What keeps McMeel so committed? "It’s seeing the eyes of those kids open up when they first get on a horse, ’ he says, ‘‘and the big smiles on their faces when they leave." 3^- Kaim Kammm is a writer in Engleuvod. Colo. To see more photos, click on this story at www.americanprofilecom www.americanprofile.com ©2007 K F Holdings. HERE’S TO A WORLD WITHOUT BITTERNESS. Maxwell ll'Hisp^- b re ood.com Page 5 IK’S It's our best Maxwell House ever. Now roasted with 100% Arabica beans, known to be the finest coffee beans in the world, for a full flavor without bitterness. IT'S A NEW MORNING. BREW SOME GOOD. Maxwell House