Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 12 March 2009 — Page 11

The Muncie Times • March 12, 2009 • Page 11

continued from page 10 And she did just that. As an elementary school teacher and a mother, Dollison, along with her good friend Raushanah Shabazz, saw an educational need in the Whitely neighborhood. Together, they founded Motivate Our Minds (MOMs) in 1987. It started in Dollison’s living room and (later) expanded to .2023 E. Highland

Ave., Muncie, where MOMs built a state-of-the-arts facility. For the past 22 years, Dollison has worked and volunteered endless amounts of time. She has reached out to thousands of children and young people throughout Muncie and Delaware County. Even though she is suppose d to be retired, she still continues to devote many hours a week doing what she most enjoys:

helping children to learn. Loving, kind hearted, giving, compassionate, spirited, caring, vivacious and motivated are a few adjectives .to describe Dollison. Those who know her could probably add many more. She has received many awards: Athena Award, VIVA Award. Indiana Youth Achievement Award, to name a few. None of these awards, however, have changed

her from being meek and humble. The mayor, the governor, and Congressman Mike Pence have recognized her. The state of Indiana granted her the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, another prestigious award. I am honored to write about Mary Dollison. not just as an educator and activist in the community, but also as a wonderful grandmother. She has

been an awesome role model for me. Her contributions are measureless in terms of the help she has offered others, to my six cousins, and to me. She is truly an example of a leader who has made a difference. Britney Bass ■ Uth Gradelndiana Academy for Science and Art

Student waxes lyrical in praise of legendary poet, activist Maya Angelou

By Mackenzie Clinger Maya Angelou is a wonderful civil rights leader. Angelou was born in St. Louis, Mo., on April 4, 1928. She is now 80 years old. Her birth name was Marquerite Johnson. Maya grew up in Stamps, Ark., and later moved to San Francisco, Calif. Angelou is a magnificent poet, educator, historian, best selling author, actress, play writer, stage and screen producer, director and civil rights activist. Her many accomplishments show how well rounded she is in life. She was the first African American woman director in Hollywood. She has written 12 books, including some best sellers. She is best known for writing autobiographical books. Her book, titled I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, was nominated for the National Book Award. In 1959, at the request of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she became the northern coordinator for the

Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Then, from 1961 to 1962, she was the associate editor of The Arab Observer in Cairo, Egypt. This was the only English weekly newspaper in the Middle East. During this time, she lived in Africa and played a very important rule in getting news to the people. Maya Angelou returned to the United States of America in 1974. Angelouis most famous for her poetry. Two of her mos t famous poems are, Alone and Still I Rise. Here is a quote from her magnificent poem Alone; “Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody Can make it out here alone.” This shows how she feels at times and that everyone needs someone to count on. . Some of her poems were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. She accepted a lifetime appointment in 1981 as Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. N.C. Even with this position she continues to travel all

Maya Angelou

over the world. In having all these accomplishments Maya Angelou has make a wonderful civil rights leader. This wide range of accomplishments has made her able t relate to a large vari-

ety of people, all over the world and, especially, right here in the United States of America. People all over the world look up to her in amazement and support her and what she does.

To this day, Maya Angelou continues to be a fantastic civil rights leader. Mackenzie Clinger 7th Grade Yorktown Middle School Yorktown