Paul Palmisano is the principal and co-founder of Life Academy.  It is a Christian alternative school serving middle school and high school students.  The campus is located in a wooded area of Monument, Colorado, a short drive from Colorado Springs but seemingly a million miles from New York City where Palmisano was born and raised.

Prior to arriving in Colorado in 2004, Palmisano, 53, held a similar position at Fort Tilden, an academy in the Rockaways of New york City that provided educational opportunities to over-age dropouts.

“I’m out of my culture here,’ Palmisano said with a grin as he munched on a breakfast burrito.  “I’m much more understood when I’m walking the streets of New York..”

While Palmisano might relish his natural surroundings in the Big Apple, he is making quite an impact at Life Academy.  “His enthusiasm and vision are unbelievable,” said Lexie Forbes, who co-founded Life Academy with Palmisano.  “He’s definitely a hard worker and takes the bull by the horns.  The Gospel is his biggest passion.  He pursues God’s purpose for him in this world..  That realization is what drives him.  He takes the gifts he’s been given and applies them.”

Life Academy exists to share the Gospel.  The students meet in a one-room schoolhouse.  A few years ago there were as many as 30 students..  Today there are about a dozen..

Palmisano is also the school’s basketball coach.  Since the athletic program is not sanctioned by the state, he’s found himself at point guard on many occasions.  “It’s a real trip,” he said.  “Thank God it’s been a good trip.”

Like millions of other New Yorkers, Palmisano was at work on September 11, 2001, when a few of his Fort Tilden students (ages 18-21) came inside from their break and told him the World Trade Center was on fire.

Palmisano saw the black smoke thickening across the skyline, but he assumed there had to be another explanation.  Moments later he got the phone call that set him on a remarkable and harrowing journey.

“Because our school was on federal land, I got a call from the supervising ranger telling me the World Trade Center was under attack,” Palmisano recalled..  “They were going to lock down the area, so I called parents and helped get everyone out of there.”

For the next five days, Palmisano worked at Ground Zero as a first responder to the terrorist attacks.  His duties as a volunteer fireman (he borrowed his turn out gear from a local fire department) allowed him access to the location.  He arrived on scene about 20 minutes after the second tower was hit.  Though untrained as a rescue worker, he was not unprepared for the challenge.  He credited his faith in Jesus Christ for giving him the courage to do what needed to be done.

“I knew Jesus’ death on the cross paid for my sins and I’d accepted Him as my Savior,” Palmisano said.  “Because of that, I knew for sure that if I died down there, I’d be going to meet Him in heaven.”

Palmisano spent most of his time helping to unload barges at the nearby docks that were bringing equipment and donations to the scene.

Leading up to the attacks, Palmisano had been memorizing the 23rd Psalm with his young son, Mark.  The verses he’d committed to memory flooded his mind hour after hour, day after day, as he participated in the rescue effort; first helping survivors find shelter and medical help, then working on the smoldering pile of rubble.

Palmisano estimates he spent about 25 percent of his time on the actual pile of the former towers, participation in human chains that helped pass out everything from debris to the haunting leftovers of personal effects.

Because he lived close enough, Palmisano would go home each day to see his wife and son and get a few hours of sleep before returning.

Understandably, the five days Palmisano spent at Ground Zero left an indelible impression.  It is one that inevitably surfaces from his subconscious every time the anniversary rolls around.

“I was born and bred in New York City, and I’ve never seen that kind of patriotism,” Palmisano said.  “Besides the nightmares, that’s what I remember.  I didn’t know if I had it in me until that day.  Now I know I’m someone that can go in when others have to go out.”

Palmisano was honored by Life Academy on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.  Following the presentation, Lexie Forbes was introduced to unveil a commemorative portrait she had painted from a photo of Palmisano that appeared in New York Newsday on September 12, 2001.

“It evoked emotions that many Americans felt in the days and weeks following the attacks,” Forbes said.  “The principle figure (Palmisano) stands with his head bowed in prayer, his exhaustion obvious in the slump of his shoulders.  His location and the time period are evident from the subway sign and earnest pleas for information enshrined behind him on the fence.  Even though the day is sunny, we knew we had entered into the valley of the shadow of death.”

Palmisano lives in a modest Colorado home, but his roots run two thousand miles to New York City.  He has a heavy New York accent and supports his beloved Yankees and Giants by wearing replica jerseys of two of his favorite players—Derek Jeter and Mark Bavaro.

While many people choose to take mission trips to Africa, Guatemala, or Thailand, Palmisano feels led to stay in the States and help a city that is in great need.  “There is more of a need than ever,” Palmisano said.

It is Palmisano’s love of people and desire to serve Jesus Christ in a deeper and more profound way that drives him in his daily walk.  That is the main reason why he returns to New York City a couple of times each year to serve a large population that is hurting.

“I’m just being obedient,” Palmisano said.  “I feel like God has told me to do this.”

Representing Life Academy Ministries, Palmisano spends up to two weeks each year working for the Walter Hoving Home and New York City Rescue Mission.

The Walter Hoving Home is a Christian safe house whose national headquarters are in Garrison, just outside of New York City.  The non-profit rehabilitation center serves women ages 18 and over who have been involved in drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution, and other life-controlling problems.  The 6 or 12 month programs are geared to rebuilding broken lives in an atmosphere of warmth, trust, support, and love.  The home was started by John and Elsie Benton in 1967 and was named after the chairman of Tiffany and Company. 

The New York City Rescue Mission has been providing spiritual hope, food, shelter, and clothing to people in crisis since 1872..  It is the first Christian rescue mission in North America. 

“When I work for the Rescue Mission, I’m there as a tutor, a cook, an administrative assistant, or I work in the pantry for outreach,” Palmisano said.  “I don’t know what I’m going to do for the New York City Rescue Mission before I get there, but I know exactly what I’m going to deal with when I work for the Walter Hoving Home.  I know that I’ll be working the streets—in daylight and at night.  I’ll be working the parks of Manhattan and the subways of Manhattan and the major train terminals of Manhattan and the New York Port Authority and its 425 ports.”

Palmisano and a partner, always a female, hit the streets of Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan around midnight, looking for places of open prostitution.  They approach the women very carefully and very quietly.  

“We do some very scary stuff,” said Patricia Howard-Randolph, 59, a south Brooklyn resident who has worked the streets with Palmisano.  “Paul goes into some really dangerous areas.  We go into some of the worst possible neighborhoods where I wouldn’t go by myself—and I live here.  I stay in the car, but Paul gets out and gives them pamphlets on the Walter Hoving Home..  He’s very personable.  He’s very gentle.  He’s very kind.”

When Palmisano returns to New York, he is generally met with enthusiasm by those he serves.  “We look forward to Paul coming,” said Matt Hach, who is the donor communications director for the New York City Rescue Mission.  “He’s such a nice guy and so encouraging..  I’m originally from Ohio, so I don’t have the same kind of insight Paul has when it comes to the people and needs of this city.  He’s much more effective being a New Yorker than someone like me.”

Joe Little, the Rescue Mission’s public information director, added that volunteers like Palmisano are a vital part of the center’s success.  “You can look up servant in the dictionary and you’ll see Paul’s face staring at you,” Little said.  “He’s as bold of a guy as you’ll ever meet.  He’s also tender.  He’s get right down there in the trenches.”

Among the highlights from his summer 2013 trip is meeting up with an old friend who had recently accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.

Palmisano is dedicated to making sure his young students at life Academy have success beyond graduation.  He’s committed to helping high school dropouts in the Colorado Springs area take the necessary classes to graduate; no matter how old they might be.  Palmisano had targeted Springs Rescue Mission and Lighthouse Ministries.

“We are here to educate at-risk people,” said Palmisano, whose oldest student is 53.  “We picked up 16 adults who are interested in completing their high school education..  We’re going to run the program off-site in the ministries, but the people can come up here and get tutored.”  The students use the same curriculum as Life Academy.

“They use our books, follow our guidelines, do the same stuff we do,” Palmisano said.

“Palmisano is not looking to profit from his latest venture; however, donations are needed to keep the programs going.

“As educators and as Christians we’re open to doing this, and we’re open to doing this for free,” he said..  “We’re not asking for any payment from Lighthouse Ministries or Springs Rescue Mission.  My staff and I are taking this on because it will be a blessing.  We just don’t know home many we’re going to be able to graduate.”



Danny Summers
Power for Living
July 20, 2014