Cincinnati Has A New YMCA Youth City Council
Following campaign speeches to about 200 Cincinnati area high school students, the 2011-2012 YMCA Youth Cincinnati City Council has been officially sworn into office and was publically introduced before Cincinnati City Council on October 5, 2011.
The elections were the culmination of an annual two-day YMCA Youth in City Government conference aimed at engaging young people in having a voice within their communities, and strengthening leadership and communication skills.
The year-round YMCA Youth in City Government program gives Cincinnati students the opportunity to learn about local, state, national and international politics. It offers teen participants a venue to gain leadership skills, strengthen their ability to express ideas clearly and persuasively, and learn fellowship by working together with peers from diverse backgrounds.
The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati is one of the area’s largest nonprofits focused on engaging individuals and families in youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. This year more than 125,000 people will come to the YMCA to learn, grow and thrive. Adult role models nurture positive values and life lessons in children through sports, summer camps, structured child and afterschool care, and leadership building programs. Branches offer quality time for families to be together, resources for parents, and a variety of opportunities for seniors to be active. The YMCA ensures these opportunities are available to everyone no matter their ability to pay with generous support from community partners and donors.
Photo:
left to right: Virginia Hollatz (Mt. Notre Dame H.S.); Jane Eby (Mother of Mercy H.S.); Jordan Stevens (Mother of Mercy H.S.); Benita Munnerlyn (Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy); Joseph Trentman (School for Creative and Performing Arts); Kyle Denman (St. Xavier H.S.); Nick Staresinic (Moeller H.S.); Kyla Norton (School for Creative and Performing Arts); Sami Spanagel (Mt. Notre Dame H.S.); Stephanie Cline (Mother of Mercy H.S.); and David Frost (Altersgate Christian Academy)
Meet Na’Dreya Lattimore, A ‘Kid of Character’
At 11 years old, Na’Dreya Lattimore (a student at Holmes Elementary School) has already demonstrated she is a courageous leader eager to stand up for what she believes in. Resiliency was taught her very early through personal hardships that gave her a renewed strength of character. An honor student, Na’Dreya is a leader in the Born Leaders of Covington Kentucky (BLOCK) group and was instrumental in developing a literacy program for students at a local child care center, as well as other community service projects. Her demonstration of determination thrust her into the national spotlight last year when Na’Dreya decided to write to the President about her opinion on the ‘No Child Left Behind’ Act. She felt that children who needed more help in school were holding back kids who were learning more quickly.
She closed her letter with this…’One more thing, … you need to look at us differently. We’re not black, we’re not white, biracial, Hispanic, Asian or any other nationality. We are the future.’” President Obama recited her letter in an Urban League speech. “Na’Dreya, you are right,” he said.
Na’Dreya is one of 10 kids who will be honored October 12 by the Cincinnati nonprofit organization, Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. I was thrilled when they asked me to help with writing the bios and helping them to get added exposure for the event. What a wonderful cause. One of my other favorite events of the year is working on the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Character Awards Event that honors 40 older teens for their character values. This event recognizes younger children, grades K through 8 (at the time of the end of the 2010-2011 school year).
Who are Character Council ‘Kids of Character’?
Well, at a young age, they are already role models and leaders. They’re not afraid to speak up for important causes and work hard for what they believe in. They are compassionate friends and respectful contributors to society. While diverse in their backgrounds, these are the common threads that all 10 Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky ‘Kids of Character’ honorees share. (Please see list of honorees below.)
And for that, they will be honored at the first annual Kids of Character Celebration Dinner. Anthony Muñoz, Character Council spokesperson, will join community members recognizing these shining examples of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
According to Mary Andres Russell, executive director, ” Our Board and committees all agree that in order to truly create a city and region of character, we have to reach the children and reach them early. There are so many outstanding kids in our community who have benefited from great parents and dedicated teachers. We decided to create a forum to honor these children to encourage them and that they might be a light to others. Through the process, our judges discovered a commonality — most have overcome great adversity. Instead of crumbling, they have used the adversity to shape their character.”
Character Development begins early
The Character Council, whose mission it is to foster character development in children and adults as a foundation of success, works with many local educators and organizations to teach these values to youth.
The organization recently adopted its fourth CPS school as a ‘school of character’ and this past summer it rolled out character education programs in ALL 26 Cincinnati Recreation Centers collectively serving about 2500 kids.
Event information:
October 12 at 6:30 PM
Montgomery Inn in Montgomery
‘Kids of Character’ Celebration Dinner
Cost: $75 per seat
RSVP: 513-467-0170
Founded in 2000, the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky engages educators, community volunteers, employers, and worship congregations in building and strengthening positive character traits as a foundation for life success. In 2010, more than 371,000 citizens were impacted with its message of good character. Among its strategies: the Council has trained and provided educational materials to more than 1000 Cincinnati police officers, employees of more than 60 local businesses, and more than 1200 local educators on promoting positive values; and offers presentations and information to the general community on good character. For more information, visit http://charactercincinnati.org.
Skyline Chili Helps Cincinnati Cooks! Graduate Further Her Training
Nicholas Lambrinides, great grandson and namesake of Skyline Chili founder Nicholas Lambrinides, bestowed the first annual Glenway Skyline Scholarship to Cincinnati COOKS! graduate Berenice Torres at the 100th graduation ceremony recently.
To commemorate their family legacy and support the Cincinnati community, four of Nicholas Lambrinides’ great grandsons contributed a $30,000 endowment to the Cincinnati COOKS! Program – meant to be given to graduates annually to further their education at the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State. Berenice was chosen for her skill and ambition among other criteria. She is among 840 graduates the program has turned out in 10-week cycles over the past decade.
About Cincinnati Cooks!
Cincinnati Cooks! is a free, ten-week program of the FreeStore/FoodBank that prepares students with financial challenges who are looking to improve their lives, for work in the food service industry. During the program, professional cooks teach them culinary skills, along with job and life skills. The goal is help people age 18 and up to succeed both in the kitchen and in their personal lives. Cincinnati Cooks! students work with donated and purchased food in the Rosenthal
Community Kitchen.
What happens to the meals prepared by Cincinnati Cooks students?
Most of the snacks and meals prepared by Cincinnati Cooks! students are served at Kids Cafe. The Kids Cafe program provides free, hot, after-school meals to children who might otherwise go hungry outside of school.
News Of ‘Good Things’ Keeps Spreading
Gosh, how truly special it is when I hear from people who want to help me spread the message of Good Things Going Around. I was recently interviewed on
WNKU (105.9 89.7 and 104.1 FM) by reporter Cheri Lawson. Here is a link.
And by Melanie Brooks on a website called Freelance Switch. Here is a link.
The Good Things Pledge Is Spreading
I created the Good Things Pledge as a fun project to remind ourselves that we all have within us the power to be happy, care for each other, rise above obstacles, and appreciate what is most important in life. It is so much fun to see how people of all ages are enjoying it. If you’ve taken the Pledge, I’d love to hear from you. Send me a photo with your certificate or a comment and you just may find yourself in my enewsletter.
WLWT News 5 Reporter Alison Montoya Took The Good Things Pledge
You can take the Good Things Pledge too! Just visit the page on my blog and add your information. I’ll send you your certificate.
