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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1998)
/X -ìtu r • -• I - O ct. 7,1998 Page A5 ÖZFje ^Jnrtlanb (Observer / > 7'. •.'A • •• - r ' .*■ V . . . . A» . > .r ’ 4-,*. . Ar**:'* i'v ?.•> .LY.» a ; Beat the Odds: A Celebration of Youth M arian W right E delman Daniel has known hard times. While in high school, he and his family were evicted from their home and had to live in a van for eight months. While his mother worked, Daniel was responsible for cleaning, cooking meals, and caring for his six sibling. There were times when Daniel had to miss school to care for a sick child. Despite many obstacles, Daniel "Beat the Odds.” He com pleted 10 honors-level classes; can speak English, Spanish, French, and some German; and maintained a 3.8 grade point average. Daniel, a re cipient o f the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) "Beat the Odds” award, has set high standards for himself. Today, he is fulfilling his dream o f going to college and is working to ward his degree at the University o f Pennsylvania. Rhondee was a CDF “Beat the Odds” recipient in 1992. While a high school senior, Rhondee, in an award-winning speech entitled “ Im pact o f Violence on the Family,” described the murder o f her aunt in 1983 and the effect this tragedy had on her family. Overnight, the size o f her household increased from seven to eleven. This added burden put tremendous strain on her parents’ marriage and they separated. As the oldest child, Rhondee assumed a great deal o f responsibility, including pre paring meals and helping to care for the younger children, while at the same time maintaining a A+ grade average and remaining active in school activities. Rhondee was a National Merit Commended Scholar, a member o f the National Honor Society, president o f her high school senior class, and volunteered in her community. When recommending her for the award, her school counse lor said Rhondee “attributes her ac complishments to a single-minded devotion to the pursuit o f academic excellence, an intense sense o f opti mism, and a steadfast belief in God." Rhondee graduated from Spellman in 1997. She’ll enter medical school this fall after a year abroad on a Watson Fellowship in India and Kenya studying the work, successes, and problems o f women scientists in third world countries. She credits “Beat the Odds” with showing her that people cared about her and about helping others. “Beat the Odds” is a project initi ated by CDF and the Black Commu nity Crusade forChildren to focus on the positive potential o f our young people. Too often we hear about young people getting into trouble, dropping out o f school, becoming involved with drugs, crime, or gangs, or becoming parents too soon. Too seldom we hear o f the many young people who are “Beating the Odds” despite the daunting conditions in by which so many o f them live and the tremendous obstacles in the way of even the smallest achievement. “Beat the Odds” celebrations have taken place in Los Angeles: Bridge port and New Haven, Connecticut; Atlanta; East St. Louis; Detroit; Min- neapolis/St. Paul; Concord, New Hampshire; Charlotte, North Caro lina; Cincinnati; Memphis; Missouri City, Texas; New York City; and Washington D.C. We work with local education advocates, schools, and community leaders to select and honor students who demonstrate aca dem ic excellence and have the strength and determination to “Beat the Odds.” They are honored for their personal achievements in their struggles to improve their own lives and the lives o f others. At a special awards ceremony in their city, CDF and BCCC celebrate the remarkable lives o f these young people and their families, friends, teachers, and coun selors who helped them to succeed. Each student is presented with a cash scholarship and other gifts like a computer and a shopping spree. We hope that soon every city will begin celebrating youths’ successes and will provide them scholarships to go on to college. "Beat the Odds’ ’ celebrations strike a chord with community leaders and citizens who want to help children who are struggling and making it. We work with corporations that do nate prizes for nominees and the media which does feature pieces about these youths. NBC4 in Wash ington and Los Angeles have been great supporters o f the program. Because it has been so broadly em braced by the communities involved, “Beat the Odds” has fostered suc cesses beyond those celebrated at the events themselves by serving as a catalyst for additional community efforts on behalf o f these and other children. If you’d like to know more about this program or would like to orga nize an event in your community, please contact Sharie Brown Wood at CDF, 25 E Street NW, Washing ton D.C. 20001, 202-662-3529. Show young people like Daniel and Rhondee that people do care and can help them “Beat the Odds.” Butter ‘Tasty Turkey Meal Ideas” Recipe Contest Runner-Up Winner Be A Foster Parent Services to Cl Family Foster Home Recruitment at 1-800-331-0503 ? r, - .*• » '•u*- ;■ • When a Parent Dies: Supporting the Children A free Comm unities in Crisis Teleconference Joinournational panelofexpertsteatunngkeynotespeakerMartinLutherlCinglll and panel members as they discuss issues such as; Howwillthechildrencope9 Howaraetheirlivesforeverchanged9 Howcanyoumakea difference? Kenneth Martis Merrillville, IN 1/2 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise 1 tablespoon horseradish sauce 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 2 teaspoons C hef Paul Prudhomme’s Poultry Magic 1/2 cup pancake mix 3-4 tablespoons butter or marga rine 6-8 Butterball Fresh Turkey Cut lets Salsa 2/3 cup mild salsa 1 10-ounce package frozen rasp berries, in syrup, thawed and well drained In small bowl, stir mayonnaise and horseradish sauce. In shallow dish, blend bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, seasoning and pancake mix. In large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Dip turkey in mayonnaise mix ture, coat thoroughly with bread crumb mixture, pressing in crumbs to bind well. Saute turkey cutlets in hot butter until golden, about 4-5 minutes on each side. While turkey cooks, stir together salsa mixture. Top each cut let with salsa or serve on the side. Makes 6 to 8 servings. 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