Kids on the Block puppets, from left, are Mark Riley, Brenda Debrowski, Melody James, and Renaldo Rodriguez, pose after a puppet show at the Kids on the Block offices on East EighthStreet in downtown Chattanooga. The organization works to educate and connect with children on issues like child abuse and divorce through the art of puppetry.DID YOU KNOW?• Kids on the Block is a national organization that started in 1977 in Maryland.• The Chattanooga branch began in 1979.• The local troupe uses more than 100 puppets in its 42 programs.• Kids on the Block was chosen as nonprofit of the year in 2012 by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce.
Renaldo Rodriguez was born blind, but he says he can do all the things other kids do, just in his own way.
“Sometimes, guys, I have to do things a little differently, and that’s A-OK,” he said.
By the way, Renaldo is a puppet.
He is one of the characters created by Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block, a group that uses puppetry to teach children about social issues, special needs and accepting differences.