Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 May 2000 — Page 14

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, MAY 26,2000

Rashida Kennedy is exploring her options

By ANARE V. HOLMES Recorder Editor Rashida Kennedy, a 22-year-old Carmel resident and recent summa cum laude graduate of Hampton University will soon take her researching skills, acquired through a history major, to Capitol Hill in Washington. Kennedy will spend the summer interning in the office of Indiana Congresswoman Julia Carson before returning to Hampton to complete her master’s degree in secondary education. “Being a socially conscious person, I thought it would be interesting to see what goes on in the day and life of a member of Congress,” said Kennedy, who describes herself as optimistic and ambitious. Kennedy’s desire to immerse

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Rashida Kennedy herself into new and different experiences is what attracted her to Hampton, the historically Black college in Virginia. Graduating near the top of her Carmel High

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School class, Kennedy felt it was important to further her education in an environment where she was in the majority, a place where the study of Black culture is not only promoted but required. “Coming from a predominately white environment and having been in a predominately Black environment, I feel I am more wellrounded," she said. “I know how to operate in and can relate to both worlds.” The daughter of Lee and Claudette Kennedy (an executive manager and school principal) said that college expanded her perception of the world. “I used to think, growing up in Carmel that only affluent, middle class people were the hardest working people, but I learned that some of the hardest working people come from disadvantaged backgrounds,” she said. “I’ve learned to appreciate my heritage and the struggle that the people who came before me went through so that I could be here.” Through her work tutoring Black males who were suspended from school as a result of drug involvement, Kennedy acknowledged the violence that is associated with drugs as the Black community’s most pressing issue. She encourages youth to not be afraid to go against the crowd, to look outside the bubble that encompasses their own life and get to know what’s going on in a world that is different than their own. “I care about Black people and our struggle,” she said. “I am a person who doesn’t settle for less.”

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Youthful bliss Zadok Wilson, 2, enjoys Mayfest 2000 festivities held recently at Auntie Marne’s Child Development Center on North Emerson Avenue. ‘ Visitors rocked to the sounds of Nigeria’s Umunna Cultural Musical Group. The fundraiser helps continue the center’s mission to provide affordable quality day care to working parents. (photo/Curtis Guynn)

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Remarks Fr. Kenneth Taylor. Pastor Holy Trinity Catholic Church Fr. Tony Clark, Pastor St. Rita Catholic Church Music Ministry Holy Angels Choir

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Mount Paran Missionary Baptist Church 3425 Boulevard Place Indianapolis, Indiana 46208 317-925-0552 Spiritual Renewal Week SPRING REVIVAL May 30th - May 31st - June 1st 7:00 PM Nightly Guest Evangelist: REV. MARVIN WILEY Pastor of Rock of Ages Baptist Church Maywood. Illinois y Guest Lecturer: REV. IIM HOLLEY Pastor of Little Rock Baptist Church Come and receive a word from the Lord as these men of God share from their hearts

Guest Evangelist REV. MARVIN WILEY Rock of Ages Baptist Church

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Pastor honored The life and legacy of Dr. F. Benjamin Davie wee recently celebrated during the Central Baptist Theological Seminary students’ annual banquet. Pictured (seated) is Davis and Rev. H.L. Hudson Williams of Chapel Baptist Church In Oakland, Calif. (Photo/ Curtis Guynn)

Parents do care and kids can learn By EMORY CURTIS were 46 graduates of the program. Twenty-four are now in USC on scholarships, five are in other four-year colleges and 12 are in commuJust after writing this piece I’ll be attending the University of nity colleges. The total for the program for the past three years are 140 Southern California (USC) Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI) graduates, 63 of which are in USC, 12 in the California State University annual ceremony, where achieving students (in their lexicon, “schol- system, 36 of which are in community college, eight in the University ars”) and parents, guardians and significant adults receive recognition of California system, three in other state college systems, four in other for making the NAI program an unduplicated success in converting low private colleges, three in Ivy League institutions and three in vocational achieving students into high-performing scholars. school. The whereabouts of eight of the graduates are unknown. I’m attending for two reasons. One.just seeing youngsters pulled off Those figures show that USC’s NAI program has taken 140 “C” the public school system’s economic dump road renews my belief that average sixth graders who were potential gang members, drive-by public schools can work — with the right leadership. Secondly, I want shooters, shooting victims, or school dropouts and put them on the to see if, for once, a locally elected official will attend the ceremony, threshold of becoming real contributing and productive members of this ;: In the nXI program, sixth grade “C” average students ih’low- society. performing (1 or 2 on a 10 scale) elementary schools surrounding USC There were 24 Manual Arts High School graduates from the NAI in the Los Angeles Coliseum area are given a chance to get the equivalent program that went to USC in 1997. During the previous 10 years? less of a good private prep school education. If the student and the adult(s) than 10 Manual Arts High School graduates had gone to USC. in the home will commit themselves to do the work, they will not only Dr. Bill Taylor, of the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis get a good prep school education but may also get a four-and-one-half at USC, said, year free ride at USC. “This is an unprecedented and amazing achievement for both the Commitment requires more than lip service by both the scholar, nee Neighborhood Academic Initiative and the University of Southern student, and the adults in the home. California.... No one could have predicted those numbers. Yet, perhaps For the student, it means being at USC for two hours each weekday what makes these numbers all the more impressive is the fact that none morning for instructions from NAI teachers before going to their regular of these students were identified as college-bound students by officials school for regular classes. For three days each week the NAHtudents go in elementary, middle and high schools they attended prior to theft to USC for one-and-a- half to two hours for tutoring by USC students, enrollment in the Initiative’s Pre-College Enrichment Academy.” That’s not all. Every school night, there is a three-hour homework The student performance numbers are impressive. However, the real session at home with no TV. And then on Saturday, NAI scholars spend impressive numbers are in the adult participation area. At one awards four hours in a workshop that covers such topics as communications, ceremony, I counted 48 adults who walked up on the stage to get their mathematics, information technology, science, and SAT and ACT exam Oscarettes for attending over 90 percent of the four-hour Saturday preparation. sessions. The Family Development Institute, an NAI support program, runs a The next set of adults lined up to get the top Oscarettes blew my mind, parallel four-hour program on Saturdays for the responsible adults in the There were 70 adults in the 100 percent attendance line, homes of NAI scholars. That program keeps them in tune with their own Then there was the grandmother type whose name had been left off scholars and offers parenting and home management workshops. the 100 percent list inadvertently. She stood up and received acknowlThat’s quite a load on scholars and their parent(s), guardians or edgment that she hadn’t missed a Saturday session for two years handresponsible adults. That load can only be carried if there is a complete running (as we used to say in Texas). change in focus and culture within the household. And that is exactly Overall, what I found to be most impressive, or depressive, is that what happens. happened in an area where regular schools can’t get a PTA to function It happens because the adults are committed to changing their own and academically the schools are performing at the 1 or 2 level (10 is lives and paving the way for their child(ren) to do much better in life than tops). they have; very few of those households had ever had any member attend The NAI program of homework every school night, before and after a four-year college. Therefore, it is hard for the adults to have envisioned an offspring of theirs attending USC under any circumstances. Nevertheless, many have had that vision come true. In 1997, there See PARENTS, Page B3

‘This little light of mine’ Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. recently held “This Little Light of Mine: A Portrait of Youth” recital at Crlspus Attacks Middle School. The sorority says It’s blazing new trails the Alpha Kappa Alpha way. (Photo/Curtis Guynn)

Robert Turner and Silver Hearts to observe anniversary The Eastslde Baptist Church Resurrection Choir presented Robert Turner and the Silver Hearts last Sunday at the church. R was one of many performances that will lead up to the grand 40* celebration In Juno of this very well known and popular gospel group at ML Olive Baptist Church. (Photo/Curtis Guynn)