Chicago Principal’s Connection with Mercy Home Youth Inspires Marathon Run

June 17, 2026

Long before marathon training runs and early mornings at Lindblom Math and Science Academy, where he now serves as assistant principal, Michael Meadows was a 12-year-old boy sheltering inside his middle school as Hurricane Katrina altered his life forever.

“It was a moment of saying goodbye to everything we knew,” Meadows said.

Growing up in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Meadows spent his childhood playing roller hockey along the Gulf Coast. But in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina tore through South Mississippi and upended his family’s life. The bottom floor of his house took in 16 feet of water, and the top floor took in 3-4 feet. For months, Meadows’ family bounced around different temporary homes.

“We survived in the aftermath of that storm because of the support and help from others,” Meadows said. “That really inspired me and my siblings to want to make sure we were each doing something with our lives that was meaningful.”

The experience permanently changed how he viewed community, service, and the importance of showing up for others. Ultimately, his father lost his job at a Biloxi, Mississippi casino that was destroyed in the storm. The family relocated to Iowa.

But one memory from the hurricane stayed with him.

Ms. Harrell, his home room teacher, was also sheltering at the school with him as the winds and waters raged outside. Though they had not been especially close beforehand, Meadows remembers her comforting him and his siblings after they learned the extent of the damage to their home.

“When I returned to school a month later, she was looking out for me and checking on me,” he said. “That really opened my eyes to how you show up and support kids beyond academics and learning.”

Years later, that lesson continues to shape the way Meadows approaches education.

After moving to the Chicago area to attend Elmhurst University, he became a math teacher before transitioning into school leadership. Today, he serves as assistant principal at Lindblom while pursuing a doctorate in Urban Education Leadership.

During college, Meadows was first introduced to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls through a summer program where Mercy Home’s young people visited Elmhurst’s campus. Getting to know our kids proved to be another level of education.

“That was one of those formative experiences that showed where my impact could be the biggest,” he said.

Now, years later, Mercy Home’s mission has become deeply personal again through one of his students, a young man named Judah.

“I agreed to move to Mercy Home because I wanted to be away from home,” Judah said.

At school, Meadows saw a student still trying to figure himself out.

“He hadn’t yet figured out who he wanted to be,” Meadows said. “He was trying to talk to me about transferring out of Lindblom. He had gotten in some trouble earlier in the year.”

Meadows remained patient and kept checking in.

He stationed himself in the hallways with a rolling standing desk and laptop, creating opportunities for casual conversations and daily encouragement.

“I told him that he’s a smart and bright kid and he belonged at Lindblom,” Meadows said.

Over time, Judah began to change.

At Mercy Home, he started taking his treatment program more seriously, improved his grades, joined debate club, became a traffic guard, and learned leadership skills through therapy groups and daily structure. He also began rebuilding trust with his family.

“I have learned to do the right thing even if nobody is watching,” Judah said. “I have also learned about being a leader and being someone that people trust and can count on.”

At school, Meadows watched that same growth unfold in real time.

“Between last year and this year, he’s become such a mature kid,” Meadows said. “Whenever we have visitors and we go visit classrooms, I always want to make sure we have student perspectives.”

The junior who once considered leaving Lindblom is now one of the students Meadows relies on most.

“If we have any public event, I’ll tap Judah,” he said. “He’s the kid when I’m showing up to set up tables for testing, I don’t even have to ask him, he’ll just help me out.”

Judah’s academic confidence has also grown dramatically. After participating in a summer college algebra program through Mercy Home, he is now taking pre-calculus and two AP classes.

“His trajectory has been really amazing to see,” Meadows said.

Last fall, Judah represented Mercy Home at the organization’s annual marathon team pasta dinner, delivering a speech about his life and growth in front of hundreds of Heroes. The speech earned a standing ovation.

“I’ve seen the video of Judah’s speech,” Meadows said. “That was one of those moments this year where I was so proud of him and all that he’s done.”