A committee at Saint Michael’s selected six students to participate.  They traveled to Elizabeth City and settled into the Convent of the Sisters of the Holy Union of Fall River (who returned to Massachusetts every summer), which was located near the school.    Mrs. Jean Sledge cooked for the tutors, who ate communally.  They taught classes Monday through Friday  from 9am to 12 pm.  Afternoons were free, although the tutors were asked not to participate in activities that were not open to all members of the community.

The Saint Michael’s tutors participated in the Project for many reasons.  Some hoped to gain experience in the classroom, some hoped to learn more about civil rights, and some just wanted to see another part of the world.

Saint Michael’s tutors in 1965—l.-r.  John Rinaldi, John Mazzei, Phil Koch, Gary Kulik, Richard Dwan, and William Auty.

Tutor Paul Koch and Mrs. Jean Sledge, cook         

Participants in the Project mentioned playing basketball in their reminiscences.  The basketball court was a very important fixture in the neighborhood around Saint Catherine’s School.  Not only did it provide the neighborhood with a play space, it also provided the tutors the opportunity for less formal interaction with the community.  Basketball was one of few available entertainments for the tutors, as Most Rev. Anderson requested that they not participate in events or visit establishments that were not integrated.  This barred them from going to the municipal swimming pool that was still for whites only.