The Purple Cobras Project

Along with Craig Babcock and Matt Roser, the three of us have decided to make our next project about  a young man named Jhaqueil Reagan and a restaurant owner Art "Papa" Bouvier. On a cold and wet snowy day a few weeks ago, Jhaqueil was walking to job interview at a local thrift store. As he was walking he stopped and asked for directions. He came across the owner of a cajun restaurant, "Papa Roux,"getting ready to open the local eatery. He asked Art Bouvier for directions and Art said that the thrift store is about 6 or 7 miles away and that Jhaqueil should probably take the bus because of the bad weather. Jhaqueil told Art thank you and just kept on walking.

About 15 minutes later, Art was driving down the road and passed by a familiar person, it was Jhaqueil.  Art pulled over and asked Jhaqueil why he was walking all the way to the interview in the terrible conditions and why he had not taken the bus. Jhaqueil told him that he did not have any money for the bus because his mother died two years ago and he had to provide for his younger siblings. Art was so moved and touched by this young man's work ethic that he drove him to the thrift store and also offered him a job at his restaurant, Papa Roux, that pays double what the thrift store would.

Art Bouvier posted this story on the Papa Roux Facebook page and since then the story has gone viral. Both Art and Jhaqueil have appeared on television shows such as Good Morning America and Fox and Friends. Bouvier said that after five minutes of the story being posted on Facebook, it had 500 likes.

Since the story came out, Jhaqueil is now set up with a stable job and was able to get a new apartment. The local transportation company also donated a free one-year bus pass for Jhaqueil so he will be able to get to and from work. There have been many donations to Papa Roux since the story became viral so, Art and Jhaqueil have also decided to set up a non-profit organization with the donation money. The organization will help unemployed job seekers with transportation, clothing and resume building.

Strangers Generosity

     Mike Nobile, Matt Roser and myself have chosen to pick a heartfelt story about the generosity of a store owner.  It has been said many times before that this country is losing its mom and pop stores to bigger corporations.  As that may be true, a little mom and pop restaurant in Indiana has made major headlines for the generosity of the owner to an unemployed teen.  Jhaqueil Reagan, 18, was walking to a job interview when he stopped to ask Art Bouvier for directions.  Art pointed him in the right direction and recommended that he take a bus due to the bad weather.  Later Art was driving when he saw Jhaqueil walking.  Art pulled over and offered him a ride.  As they were driving they had a conversation where Jhaqueil explained to Art how his mother died two years ago and he was heading to a minimum wage job interview to support his two younger siblings.  Art was touched by his story and offered Jhaqueil a job for more money at his restaurant.  Art's generosity has sparked news and headlines around the country.  People have come in swarms to meet these two people and some have given gifts to Jhaqueil to try and help him.  Our group is going to take this story and re-create it to our own interpretation.