The Village News

June 2012

RACINE Y AWARDS SIXTH JOSEPH BUCHANAN SCHLORSHIP! Ashley Sims is the sixth recipient of the Joseph Buchanan Scholarship. The Joseph Buchanan Scholarship is a four year, full-tuition scholarship to Carthage College for a minority high school student from Racine that: 1) Graduated from the Young Leaders Academy and/ or actively participated in the Y’s Teen Achievers program during their Junior and Senior years, 2) Has been accepted for admission to Carthage College, and 3) Has demonstrated the Y’s Core Values of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Caring.

Ashley graduated from Horlick High School 57th in her class of 415. She has been an active member of the Y’s Teen Achievers Program and has been a volunteer, mentor, and role model for members of the Young Leaders Academy at Wadewitz Elementary School. In addition, Ashley has also been active in Yearbook, Student Treasury, and Girls with Goals.

These experiences has given Ashley the tools to cultivate her ambitions to achieve further education and be a productive member of her society.

Ashley plans on majoring in Accounting and Computer Development. Congratulations to Ashley’s parents, Jermaine and Tina Barry, for rearing a mature, intelligent, dynamic, and personable young lady who will continue the efforts of improving herself and the community around her while attending Carthage.

Previous Joseph Buchanan Scholarship Winners: Anthony Coleman, Kadeem Liggins, Jamel Garrett, Olivia Jimenez, and DaZahn Wilkerson.

PREVIOUS JOSEPH BUCHANAN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS GRADUATE!

Congratulations to Kadeem Liggins (left) and Jamel Garrett on graduating from Carthage College.

Kadeem is a graduate of the Racine Youth Leadership Academy (currently the Young Leaders Academy) and was in the RYLA from 3rd through 8th grade. Jamel participated in the RYLA from 3rd through 6th grade and was an active member in the Y’s Teen Achievers Program. Kadeem graduated with a degree in Sports Management and Jamel earned a degree in History.

FORMER Y TEEN ACHIEVER IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE! For Melvin “MJ” Bridges, Teen Achiever Graduating Class of 2006, triumph and resilience can define the last six months of his life. May 4, 2012, MJ earned his Master degree! MJ wrote in an email to the Y, “I cannot help but to think how far I have come from in my personal life and my upbringing in Racine, WI.” After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Alabama State University, MJ moved to Indianapolis to earn his Master of Arts in education at the University of Indianapolis as a 2010 mathematics fellow for the Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship Program. While earning is Masters Degree, MJ learned how to become an effective urban high school mathematics teacher.

This school year, MJ taught at three schools; two traditional schools and one online school. He teaches full-time for Indiana’s largest high school and part-time at the other two schools. At the online school, which is Indiana’s first public virtual high school, MJ received the Teacher Make a Difference Award twice and was recently named Teacher of the Year!

During his spare time, MJ is working towards the launch of his new organization, I.am.myHBCU. His organization’s mission will be to expose African-American male students to Historically Black Colleges by sponsoring an annual college tour for specific college bound students. MJ plans to have a satellite location of this organization in Racine fall of 2013.

His ultimate goal is to become a college Professor, Dean or President. MJ plans to continue to teach and return to school to earn his Ph.D.

Y-USA HELPS HISPANIC FAMILIES DEVELOP HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES

$30,000 RAISED AT EVENING FUNDRAISER

The Racine Family Y received a small grant from the YMCA of the USA to pilot Salsa Sabor y Salud (SSyS) for Racine’s Hispanic Community. Ssys was developed to improve awareness of habits leading to better nutrition and increased physical activity for Latino families with children 12 and younger.

The Y’s Strong Communities Agenda Advisory Board raised $30,000 at an evening fundraiser held at the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread on November 12, 2011. The purpose of this fundraiser was to raise funds to support the Y’s Urban Programming Initiative called the Strong Communities Agenda.

The Racine Y’s first group started April 7th with over 50 Hispanic participants enrolled and ended June 2nd.

The next session will begin July 7th. The goal is to reach at least 100 Hispanics with SSyS to celebrate traditions, talk about the foods they eat every day.

For more information, call 262-880-1412.

The Strong Communities Agenda provides a range of programs dedicated to increasing the strength and effectiveness of community life and improving local conditions, especially for youth in disadvantage situations. Funds raised will help expand the Young Leaders Academy and the Focus on Fathers Initiative.

For more information about the Y’s Strong Communities Agenda, please call Zakee Darr at 262-898-4762.