We are in a time in history when the name of the game is change. To keep abreast with the latest technology we have to adapt, learn, and keep fine tuning skills. One thing I truly believe is that we have to look at new ideas and ways of doing things differently. I want my grandchildren to experience the same quality of life or perhaps even better than I. If we do not find a way of educating and preparing our children (future citizens and taxpayers) differently I am not so sure they will be able to do it. There are big battles going on in our own State right now in Olympia of where to put money in education-class size, testing, Charter Schools, teacher evaluations, curriculum, standard base grading and many other issues.

I spend every Monday taking care of my new granddaughter, I have two other older grandchildren also. What this has done for me is to watch this infant search for knowledge. She takes her hands and studies them, she makes screeches with her voice and is so impressed, she takes her fingers and touches an IPAD and she makes music by touching different keys and new sounds are heard. When you read books to her she studies the pages and the colors and the shapes. She is not even one year old—but her world is evolving—the things around her and who is around her and what they are doing for her and to her—are all being put in her little computer called—her brain. Articles are written by educators about all day kindergarten and how it pays off and now even finding funds for earlier learning in pre-schools funded by districts. I think all these programs and ideas are showing positive results that children can enter kindergarten ready to go at the same or close to it level and are a good investment.

The conversation that I think is being missed is infants begin learning and adapting to their environment and forming perceptions at birth. probably even in the womb. Are we not missing a real investment opportunity to maximize our dollars in not looking at the whole picture. An investment in families. When children are in the school settings for x amount of time they still spend a great deal of time in their home environment. Don’t get me wrong, I value having good early education for preschoolers and also instructional kindergartens. But what if we looked at investing in families at birth. When infants are born there are more programs at hospitals to sign up moms and dads for help with raising this child and more programs where trained individuals who are culturally competent and speak the language needed to communicate with the families walk with the parents in the early stages. They would be coming into the homes and helping to show nutritional needs for infants and children, educational needs they could begin at birth, and in the case of individuals struggling with money issues direct them to agencies that might assist wit these issues. You are probably saying this would cost tons of money or would it —in the long run? If you began to empower parents with the tools to help their children early on—would you see less need in future years? Would you see less money going into discipline issues in schools? Would you find out learning disabilities sooner and get the help early on? Would you develop a system where parents feel empowered to begin to become the first educators? Would you see less medical issues down the road? This is a pilot program that I would like to see developed and I have not seen anywhere in the country that anyone is advising to work on the whole family in the infant age for education.

In February, James Heckman, one of the nation’s top economists studying human development showed the gathered business executives a chart showing the United States’ entire approach to education should be demolished. This chart shows the real gap is prior to entering kindergarten. Yes…we are beginning in some areas to address this issue but I personally feel it needs to go back even earlier—at birth. He went on to say this is the main reason that income inequality is passed down from generation to generation. The government spends about 5.5 percent of the nation’s economic output in total from preschool to college. Now we are talking about some money there. Again, we need to start thinking in more out of the box methods to make what we are spending pay off. I welcome some dialogue on this issue. We, as a community, if we are investing in our tax dollars need to be getting the best returns for our investments.

This is a co-sponsored event by two youth organizations—Project U(th) and Kent East Hill Boxing Club. All the proceeds of donations go to help the youth in our community. There will be boxing of youth as it is a sanctioned USA Boxing event and boxing of local celebrities: Jim Berrios, the incoming  2013 President of the Kent Chambers, Senator Joe Fain of the 47th Distirct, Representative Pat Sullivan, Mark Hargrove of the 47th District, candidates: Bud Sizemore and Andy Massagali of the 47th District, Bailey Stober Assistant to African American Wa. State Commission, Council Members Dana Ralph and Dennis Higgins, and Rev. Andrew Toeanina of Soul d’ Out Christian Ministries. Music—concessions and a good old community get together. Tickets are reasonable and it will make a great date night!!!!

Usually I use my blog for local happenings or local issues but issues around the country can be felt locally. So this issue is going to be a little different. My husband and I attended a convention in Phoenix the first of June a few years ago and we rented a car and drove to his birthplace—Poston, Arizona. We had an air conditioned car and when we got out of the car it was about 115 degrees. After hearing my mother-in-law talk about being forced to leave her home in California with her husband and all her belongings except one small suitcase and being 5 months pregnant. I envisioned and felt this as I stepped out of the car. She, getting off a train in the middle of the desert and having to live in camps and being told to do so by her government. At that time there were no air conditioners. She had been born in the United States and gone to high school here and was just starting her life as a young woman with her first child. Why was this happening to her? How horrible to live out in the desert with many families in one tent and be pregnant. My husband was born in an internment camp, he later served in the United States Marine Corp as a Corporal. He has shared with me when his family returned home—the name calling, that they could only live in a certain part of town, and the horrible discrimination and bullying.  All the atrocities that you go through when a race is discriminated against because of stereotypes or lack of understanding. It took several years of the Japanese community keeping a low key image and working hard in school and in the work place for them to be elected to positions of prestige in the government.

Why can we not learn from these horrible mistakes and move forward as a country? The big issue in the political game today is the immigration issue. How would you like to be brought here as a young infant, raised here, go to schools here and live in neighbors here and be called undocumented? What does undocumented mean? You do not exist? What? You were an infant and had absolutely no choice in what happened or control over it and you are undocumented. Words….. how they hurt or help us. Words….how they fuel anger or calm storms.

Recently in a Gurudwara in Wisconsin, a man that had fueled anger acted upon that rage in a horrific act. We do not know his mental state but we can follow his history. He belonged to organizations that promoted racism in their songs and their rhetoric. Even some of those organizations have stepped up to say this was a horrible act. We are experiencing again in history discrimination because of the way men and women dress and act and practice their Faith. A man sees something foreign and he associates it with terrorism or whatever and he is fueled with anger and acts upon that anger. History repeating itself as with the Native American, Chinese, the African Americans, and the Japanese.

My prayer is that with this horrific act that just happened and the opening up of the Sikhs to the public of their ceremony this past Saturday in Renton to learn their true beliefs and following that we can grow to know this religion and its people and all people of various religions, creed, and color and not repeat anymore the past. Let’s start really learning from past history choices that were not good choices. Today, would I as an adult, really see the Baptist religion as extreme as some of the elders in my town did? Wow!!!! I don’t think so. The Native American that my hometown hired went on to be one of its beloved citizens and in Montana today hiring a Native American would never be labeled risky business. In the State of Washington we had the leader of this State at one time proudly announce his Chinese heritage. African Americans can point to so many examples of rising to the top before our current President was elected to office. Bullying and name calling and discrimination have no place in the schools or homes or businesses. Words hurt. Words destroy. Words can also heal, my grandfather spoke up when it was not popular to do so. Silence can also speak loudly. My prayer is: “It might be stormy now—-but it can’t rain forever.” Let’s make an effort to get to know our neighbors regardless of race, creed, religion or culture. Let’s not just go to an event for one night and think our job is done. Let’s reach out for better understanding and enlightenment. Let’s see those rainbows and sunshine’s. We can all make it happen. Correcting history takes the courage to do things differently. Let’s begin each day to celebrate the beautiful diversity in SKC and learn more about each other as individuals. Let’s pledge today to learn from our mistakes and do better.    Shalom.

Kent Meridian SEA Club

Friday evening, June 8th,  the community of Covington and the friends, parents, and students of Cedar Valley Elementary were treated to a Multicultural Night at the school gym. Countries around the world were represented by tables of families sharing their heritage in design, craft, costume, and food. It was well attended by the community and has become an annual event. The event was put on by the PTSA of Cedar Valley and Jennifer Harjehausen is the current President. The committee chair Lyuda West and her co-chairs Cari Rivers and Joni Bentley planned the event well.

Many of the teachers in the school had their classrooms decorated  to display different countries and pictures to show the culture, land, and history. When the children arrived they were issued Passports and as they visited the various tables and countries and learned about them they were given stickers to demonstrate they had been in that country. They had also displayed from their after school Art Club–Artwork several students had done and anyone was allowed to bid on this beautifully framed and ready for hanging Art work–the proceeds will go to help their after school program continue. The evening also included live entertainment from various countries,

Bag Pipes Entertaining

The final event of the evening was a drawing for a prize. This is a great example of bringing the community and schools together and a free night of entertainment for families and kids.

Greeting the Community

Ray Lee is honored for his work at Kent Meridian by Debbie Theisen

Wednesday afternoon many of the members of the community that had volunteered throughout the year at Kent Meridian High School with Challenge Day, Senior Project Presentations, tutoring, Career Day, music programs, and whatever else was needed were treated to a wonderful afternoon tea with cookies and some wonderful entertainment from their music department. Debbie Theisen who oversees in a staff position volunteers at KM stated she had over 300 volunteers on a list to draw from many needs at KM. A few volunteers were recognized for special work throughout the year. The symphony, jazz band, and singing groups preformed with many great and varied numbers. It is great to see such community support for our schools. That is what keeps our high schools and community thriving.

Friday morning March 30 at 8:30 am Kent Meridian High School showcased their students culture with talent from all parts of the world. The variety of talent showcased all the wonderful diversity of the student body. It was an assembly the students really enjoyed. The audience would participate in doing their part by clapping to the music and applauding for each performance with real enthusiasm. There was dancing from all parts of the world and the costumes were also great. The teachers and the administrative staff brought down the house when toward the end many demonstrated their talents on various dance routines and they also engaged in wearing costumes. This builds school pride, it educates, and it expresses unity of students and teachers all having fun together

Students at Kent Meridian can experience a great International experience each day just by coming to class and interacting with their classmates. This allows for a great opportunity for a Global experience right here in Kent, Washington. We need to cease  all the diversity around us and grow from it. Watch for this Assembly next year and come in and see for yourself what your tax dollars are being spent on. A great learning experience for the whole community.

Nancy Turner has served her community in so many ways. If you are ever having a down day walk in a room and the first thing you get from Nancy is a big smile and a big hug. She is one of those unsung heroes that is there to help those in need in any way. Last night, she was honored at the Kent Food Bank Annual Business Dinner for 25 years of service. The dinner was held at the Valley View Christian Church and President of the Food Bank presided over the meeting Pat Pawlak, from the Kent Fire Department. The past board was made up of Pat, Nancy, Jeanette Ristau of the Kent School District, John Straus of the Kent Police Department, Verla Morrison (Vice-President) Kent United Methodist Church, Dave Bishop,Valley View Christian Church, Jim Renton, community member, Deanna Gratzer(Secretary) King County Fire District #37, and Sam Ray, Volunteers Representative. The staff of the Kent Food Bank consists of Jeniece Choate, Executive Director, Harriet Venables, Assistant Director, and Camico Rivon, Warehouse Coordinator.

The Kent Food Bank is one of the larger food banks in South King County. Clients may visit monthly for food, clothes, and government commodities and they can come weekly for perishable items such as: bread, produce and diary. Homeless individuals/families may visit weekly for special quick or no cook food items. There are two physical location one on 515 W. Harrison Street, Suite 107 in downtown Kent and one on the hill at 27360 129th Place SE. In 2011, they served 16, 791 people and that breaks down to 10, 171 adults and 6,620 children.

People like Nancy Turner are what make this community great. They are just quietly going about their job making the world a better place to be in. She is special and if you see her walking around Kent go up to her and give her a big hug and say–”thank you!”

PAT GRAY ADDRESSES THE KENT CITY COUNCIL ON THE KENTHOPE PROPOSAL

I read an article a while ago that we have to change the way we are doing government in this State with unfunded legislation or unfunded mandates. We have all witnessed issues where great legislation and ideas are put into legislation with little or no funding to back-up the wonderful ideas or really make a difference to change the issue or the main reason why this legislation seemed important to pass in the beginning. When we were a prospering economy we seemed to sometimes work with these unfunded mandates but in more challenging times and slower growth the author was telling us the way we do business has to change. I thought the article had merit. I think when elected officials see a proposal placed in front of them that demonstrates this fiscal responsibility they need to wake up and take note that here are people in our community that have a well thought out idea to help our community and not only are they pointing out safety nets that have been removed but they have found a way to come together as a community—many organizations and non-profits and churches do make a difference in these issues. The icing on the Cake—they have a way to pay for it and it does not include raising the budget restraints of any government entity.

A month ago I attended a meeting for the South King County Human Services Alliances on the exhausting spiraling downward of our human services budgets to many agencies and the State of such a growing need in that area more than ever. A fact that they had done extensive research on was that if you put all the charities, non-profits, and church giving into a pot it will never be enough to make up the safety net that is needed in Human Services. It was around 20% with government from the beginning of time—contributing the most to the balance needed for human services. So we as a country are never going to be able to end government in the Human Service Business—to balance our budgets that are in such grave problems today. If that comes about it is a society I do not believe that would have a good future of any kind. If you study other countries the one fact that rarely comes out when they are toting their great strides in education or industry is the large amount these countries pour into human services to help get their other statistics to where they are today.

Chris Gough, Union Gospel Mission addresses the KentHope Proposal, Rev. Leslie Braxton, New Beginnings Church waits to speak

Last night at the Kent City Council, a group of churches, non-profits, and charities came together to discuss how they have been working in the last few months on a proposal to help address the great need for a Day Center for the Homeless of our Community. The Council Chambers room was full of supporters of this Day Center that came out to show the council they were there to roll up their sleeves and support this Proposal on one of the worst night’s of the year to be out in Kent. When they were asked to stand for a brief moment to show their support—it was moving to see people from many walks of life there to support all the citizens of our community even those down on their luck temporarily. We have all been there in one shape or form—where we need help emotionally, spiritually, financially, or physically. The Day Center would provide a place to help people get into the services they need such as housing, employment, medical or mental services, and much more just a place of rest for people to feel they are part of the Community. In places that are well run for a Day Center or night shelter—statistics show crime goes down and it can actually contribute over a period of time to those costs that run when the homeless issues reach a crisis. If a person gets help with a medical issue upfront the emergency room costs to us all go down.

The City has a building that they own that would work perfect for this Day Center. The Proposal costs the City nothing. The liability and staffing and maintenance are covered by KentHope. This building has sat empty for 2 years and the prospect of selling at this point in time does not seem to be a smart business venture for the City even if—they could find a buyer. This proposal seems to be a really great addition to Kent in its Human Service capability, in reducing crime, in including a model of a City that cares about all its citizens. It is a perfect model to build a Healthy Community and has already demonstrated by its widespread support that it brings the community together to do good.

Dwight Jackson, Catholic Community Services Speaks

Roland Bradley, New Beginnings Church speaks to the Council

Rev. Jimmie James speaks to the history of needed Day Center for Homeless

Just after Christmas, I learned through e-mail one of our boxing boys had to suddenly return to the country he was born in. His father told him in 2 days they were leaving to go back home where his mom and sister’s had gone to care for the dying grandmother and they could not get back to the US so they were going back home to keep the family together. I was shocked as we were just getting to know him. He was making friends and we had hoped to help him get a SSN and some part time work. The dream of starting the club to help the kids prepare for a better future was all coming together and instantly I realized this yong man that we were just getting to know and build skills in was being whisk away in a heart beat and we may never see him again. When I talked with him I simply did not know what to say. Secretly, I was saying to myself–how did that feel to him—he just had to go–another big change–back to what—a country with little opportunities and jobs. Unlike many American kids–he did not question his father he just did as he was told. He was making good progression in school and I wondered where did that leave him now. I said to myself how could I ever (as a teacher) go over this again and again. You teach and build them up and they are whisk away in a heart beat and you start the new semester with another new student. The challenges that kids have in our schools today are so many outside the school that we can not imagine. We wish this young man well …he was with us way too little. So we put on our gloves—make sure our hand wraps are tight and enter the Ring to fight again to be there for our kids but the last round was tough….tough.

Last Wednesday while attending the Kent East Hill Partnership Meeting there was discussion about having an event to draw recognition and business to the East Hill area. Lots of good discussion on past events and what would work in the future. I had tea with Harpret Gill of Punjab Sweets some time ago and she had discussed how her vision for that business area was to concentrate on all the diverse businesses and the International flare of the area. I brought this up in the meeting. Next meeting there is going to be more discussion regarding the potential of this and the Kent East Hill Partnership may decide to take a more active role in making this happen. The KEHP falls under the Kent Chamber of Commerce.

Focusing on a great strength of the area and developing it into an International business location makes a lot of sense. It would draw attention for people surrounding the area to come see what is happening up on the hill and it would also be a tourist attraction so visitors could sample all the food of the area and various diverse shopping. It would be a great place to showcase all the art and cultural events that take place. The Kent School District is one of the most diverse school districts and drawing in from all the youth activities in the area could even add to this becoming a place to come and visit. The India culture puts on many sporting events in other areas and maybe they could tie in some of their events at a school field to correspond with a business International Fair. This would be a totally different experience that the East Hill has to offer from downtown Kent or Kent Station making visitors want to experience many parts that Kent has to offer and not having them have to compete with each other. Marketing that area with colorful flags or signage to designate the area could build a new, fresh look to the Hill. Turning a vacant lot into a small artistic park in that area could be a welcoming place for artists to show off their work from various cultures and begin to give a business district a sense of Community. When you build a Community you take care of the businesses in that Community and perhaps graffiti would be less.

Kent East Hill Partnership has the opportunity to really take this idea and run with it and develop it and it would build an Identity to that area that is unique. Keep up the great discussions on this and all the other great activities you are building through business partnerships.

Leslie Hamada/currently sits on the Human Services Commission of Covington
currently is the Emergency Assistance Director of Kent United Methodist Church
currently is a Board Member of the InterFaith Task Force to End Homelessness

***the statistics and information base was taken from a United Way Report on Human Services in King County Nov. 15,2011

BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES -EAST HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

                           BACK TO SCHOOL BBQ   AUGUST 26, 2011

The East Hill Elementary and Community Network put on a great back to school event Friday for the kids attending that school and their parents, teachers, and community members. The weather was great and the food was wonderful and the cafeteria of  that school was filled with joyous laughter from kids, parents, teachers, administrators, and community member interacting and just getting to know the school and the people around them. This is one step in building “Healthy Communities”.  Barbara Phillips, Ray Lee, Neschella Mitchell, Dr. Michael Smith, Sharon Cornish, and Willie Wright who make-up the leadership of that organization put together a great crew to implement the feeding of the school. It takes vision and leadership like Barbara Phillips has displayed to put on an event such as this and they have more coming up for East Hill. While I attended I had a chance to talk to one child that was entering kindergarten–his eyes lit up when he talked about his first day of school coming up and his mom said she planned to be very involved in his education. Another fourth grader told me who he hoped would be his teacher as he was enjoying a great hamburger and chips. The Principal, Mrs. Daxa Thomas gave a short welcome and presentation that all kids can succeed. This is the type of event that builds a great start to the school year and lays a foundation that this is a good place to be and learn. The first ingredient in making a successful student is building an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. 

As the afternoon continued, I dropped by the Kent Meridian High School Back to School Barbecue and again great food and entertainment and the community turned out. Another example of building “Healthy Communities”. This event planned by the school and sponsors was great and they had several different entertainment acts that were an added benefit. The planning of such event should show how Kent Meridian High School wants to partner with parents and the community. I really enjoyed both events.

 

The Allegro Dancers Perform  August 26 @BBQ K

THE COMMUNITY ENJOYING GREAT FOOD

If you look at 4.4% you might think, well, that is not that bad and it is really not my problem. Ponder on it a little more and multiply it by 4 years and multiply that number 4 times again. After a few years you begin to envision a group of individuals that could make up a small town. Then factor in that it does not stop it just keeps going. What happens to these kids even becomes more frightening statistically. Without even a high school diploma things at best get harder to obtain—a job, the ability to support yourself, and the doors do not open very fast and some even slam shut.

One of the biggest line item cost on the State budget and the National scene is incarceration. For about 6 years I volunteered with the Department of Corrections and worked to help individuals on parole or coming out of Prisons turn their life around. One of the requirements of the program when we first met them was to complete a thinking report. A set of questions they were to answer about their lives—such as: what do you think led you to being where you are today? The saddest part of my experience doing this is when I would looked at these papers and saw very quickly that many of these individuals had difficulty spelling, writing a complete paragraph, and they struggled to just do what kids in elementary school are charged with doing. If they were able to write proficiently you began to learn that their home life made it very difficult to learn. There were the substance abuse issues in the household, the economic issues, the mental health issues, and their safety nets as children had holes everywhere in them.

If you as an individual are not concerned about this on a moral or faith based or social justice level it should hit you in the stomach as a financial issue. Crime costs money–personally and collectively. Prevention of crime costs money. Social programs and subsidies cut hugely into budgets. When an individual begins to not contribute to the city, state, or nation’s tax base it affects everyone whether you have had kids, or not had kids, whether you care about education issues or you could care less about education issues. Every time you turn on the TV or pick up a paper or flip through the Internet everyone is talking about we can not continue on this path of spending and entitlements. Providing food stamps where statistics say 1 in 7 are now on Food Stamps and money to help families through hard time TANF costs all of us. Incarceration costs are out of control. The idea that Texas thought was going to cure all those costs—privatizing or outsourcing has become another nightmare for that State. We need to have people educated in textbook learning and vocational skills learning and that has to come from keeping kids in school and graduating. We need to see that they are prepared for the workforce so they can contribute and support themselves and feel a part of society and the “Community”. They need living wage jobs which is a whole other topic of conversation.

There are many different approaches to education today and even the experts are at odds over these issues. I think it starts with some basics—you have to build the foundation long before you enter the formal education process and long afterward. It starts with building “healthy communities”. Communities that reflect the values and needs of that particular community itself. A place where everyone buys into being a part of it and has much more to lose if that community does not succeed. In a community that has 120 different languages spoken in the school district it is going to be a vision that is very different from person or family to family. The natural starting point is around schools—getting that community together—partnering—talking—listening and learning about one another. Making sure that everyone has a place at the table and their voice is heard. We can not just talk about partnering more we have to live it. We have to turn to the community to step up more and more in after school programs, using our school building after the school day ends, and engage one another in the process. Whatever that community looks like has to be developed by the individuals in it and whatever their needs each has to contribute to its development and bringing it to a reality. If that community needs more day cares to help working families individuals have to pull their resources to make it happen. If a community is experiencing more crime or graffiti in its area individuals have to get involved to find out why it is happening and come up with solutions to stop it. Governments and institutions have to be working to meet the needs of their communities this is paramount to curbing drop out rates in schools, and many more critical issues.

PARTNERSHIP OF KENT EAST HILL KIDS PAL BOXING CLUB  SIGNING

In the picture Jeff Watling Parks Director, Lori Hogan Parks, Dennis Higgins, City of Kent Councilman, Jeff Johnson, President PAL, Sgt. Reid Johnson PAL, Glen Hamada, KEHKPBC, John Brown, coach, partners: Bailey Stober and Project (u) th.

JUNE 30, 2011 started a new after school program for kids from 8-18. Phoenix Academy weight room gym will be the new place where all practices will be held 3 nights a week. This collaboration will includes the following government entities: The Kent School District, The City of Kent Parks Department, and the Greater King County Police Activities League.

The Club will act as an Independent Community organization with many partnerships such as: The African American Cultural Center, The Lucy Lopez Center, The JACL, and Project (u)th. The coach of the Club’s organization is John Brown.

In challenging economic times where budgets on all levels have been reduced partnerships in the Community become even more important to help Communities grow and thrive.

DIRECTORS SIGN CONTRACTS–JEFF WATLING CITY OF KENT

Sitting on the Human Service Commission of Covington I was given a paper breaking down the cuts that the State will be facing and it was interesting to overview. The State Budget that passed has moderate to severe reductions in health and human services funding for low income King County residents and especially those that are not eligible for Medicaid funding.

Effective October 1, the Disability Lifeline Program will be eliminated. The new structure creates three new programs: Aged, Blind, and Disabled Program, Pregnant Women Assistance Program, and the Essential Needs and Housing Support Program. Medical coverage for participants is preserved but the monthly cash grants for Disability Lifeline-Unemployable recipients are eliminated and the replacement program is Department of Commerce grants to counties or community-based organizations for essential needs and housing support. The $64 million for the last program will not be sufficient to provide housing to all who need it. The failure to extend and increase document recording fees supporting Home Security funds will result in cutting funds for existing community programs supporting homeless and formerly homeless persons in housing.

In Mental Health Services there will be a 4% cut for non-Medicaid and 3% cut in Medicaid

Mental Health Services. Reduction in Medicaid reimbursement rates may require reduction in rates to community mental health providers. Reduction in outpatient and residential treatment services for non-Medicaid eligible individuals will make it more difficult for people to receive needed services.

Immigrant and Refugees services were affected by the cuts in many human service areas including support for naturalization, employment services, medical interpretation and food assistance. The State Food Assistance Program was set at $4.8 million and this is half the current funding level.

They have capped the level of families they will cover for subsidized child care and that figure is 32,500. This will create a waiting list of low-income, non-TANF families who need subsidized child care to continue working. Payments to community health center and Public Health—Seattle and King County are reduced by 10.6% which results in $86.3 million cut state wide.

Community Health Centers provide care for approximately 200,000 low income and medically vulnerable people throughout King County. Maternity Support Services was reduced 30% or state wide $23.9 million. Adult dental coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries is eliminated. This will affect 30,000 adults in King County alone.

Some other health related reductions are reduced support for WIC by $800,000 and elimination of Community Health Service Grants by Community Health Center.

Senior Services will face elimination of eyeglasses and hearing aids and restriction on dental coverage. Possible reductions to Meals on Wheels, and transportation help.

The successful WIN211 information and referral system phone line will receive $1million half the amount received in past funding just when needs are rapidly rising.

Education issues also were not funded I-728 and I-732 that address class size and COLA increases and teachers will face a 1.9% reduction in their salaries. Support for state universities and technical colleges were also dramatically cut.

These cuts in prevention and intervention services could likely result in more people using emergency rooms, becoming homeless and incarcerated.

Today I reside in a school District that is huge compared to the one my education started in. The level of education is hooked to the Internet Highway and kids in Kent can talk to kids in India or Germany via Skpe and have the use of advanced technology tools online. There are over 120 different languages spoken by students in the district. Teachers are faced with major challenges in the classroom. Budget cuts everywhere seem to be the everyday norm in conversations on every social media and coffee shops.

I have over the years advanced my little world from growing up in rural communities by attending colleges in major cities and reading and learning constantly. I have been fortunate to travel and see many parts of the world and been forced through my professional work to gain a certain level of competency with computers—cell phones and the latest of what’s new in communication and technology.

I have been spending alot of time getting up to speed on the latest in educational techniques and approaches. Reading a great deal on what’s working—what’s not. Best practices —charter schools—Innovative schools—class sizes—-testing methods—closing the achievement gap—-supporting new teachers that come into a district and the list goes on and on. One could become buried in data, statistics, and theory.

The bright spot for me and what I want to focus on today is I found something that was true when I grew up and still remains true today. It is something that is simply so valuable but yet the cost is attainable by the most strapped school districts.  It is a determining factor in whether a child soars to great heights or falls into the abyss. It is the ability of a child to feel that someone cares enough to validate their presence. It is the ability to really see that this young person matters and to believe in them when perhaps at times they do not even believe in themselves. It is the power of the human touch which can be demonstrated in such a healthy way by a high five or handshake or arm around a small child saying–your work is incredible. The past two years I have as a community member judged Senior Presentations. In 95% of those presentations the student spoke to the issue how a certain teacher made a difference in their academic progress. How they believed in them and helped them grow.

The past year working with kids at Phoenix Academy it has taught me that kids transferring into this school are successful there because they do not become invisible in the numbers—their presence is validated and they are recognized more easily because the school is smaller and the class sizes are smaller. Again allowing that power of touching or getting to know the student as an individual and validating their presence everyday.

A friend of mine, Joe, who works with Homeless people everyday shared with me that if you can give  people on the streets anything to help them it is to look at them and not look away—validate their presence and their being. Say hello. It costs us nothing and can mean so much to those we validate. Kids are no different. They are born with such zest for life and energy and enthusiasm that we need to kindle those feelings inside them and nuture those primary instincts.

In the real world we are facing some schools in Kent that have huge enrollments and teachers simply are torn in so many directions to help so many. You and I can help those odds. We can mentor—tutor and spend just a small tenth of our week in a school volunteering to be that one on one person that makes a difference.

If you are a business person or just investing for the security of your retirement or family security—when you see guaranteed results for a small investment of time—how could you not find an hour of your week or more to get involved?

We are facing challenging times in our World—Nation–and Communities. Many believe our education system holds the answers to what will happen to future generations. We do not have to run statistics or pilots or test studies on what works to help our next generation succeed. If we do not want to give up more in taxes in our schools can we not afford to give of our time and talents to our future generations?

In making this choice you could be the catalyst to changing the course of education in this Country. You could be addressing the alarming increase in drop out rates. You could make up those statistics in closing the achievement gap.

In return, you might be surprised that the person that has received the most in return is yourself.

What exactly do you think he meant by this quote? I take it to mean being pro-active in the direction we as a Nation, Society, State, and Community head. Taking statistics from the Education Trust and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Washington State is ranked in the bottom-five of all states when it comes to closing the achievement gap. At the current pace (nothing done differently) it will take 45 to 50 years to close the gap between students of color and their White counterparts. If you are not practicing a Faith—which I definitely fall into that category—we should be our brothers keeper to a point, and just looking at it from a general perspective you need to also take note of what this could do the world around you as you know it today. If you are approaching Social Security age or even heading toward it in the future—the workers that contribute to that program will help your benefits stay stable and grow with inflation, if the working class coming up is being paid good money to work. Businesses now more than ever need an educated and skilled labor force to grow their business and develop the creativity to develop new visions and technology. If, we, as citizens do not become invested more in our education systems and closing the gap in achievement before you know it we will not (personally) have this great country that is able to set the pace in technology, provide wonderful health care, produce innovation that builds new business because the future or the predictability of it will come from inventing it. Really inventing it by investing in the education system of this country and paying attention to kids of color that are falling behind and making it a paramount duty to get involved and do something about it. How many of us can give a few hours of the week to tutor a child in reading? Yes….we are all busy but if we do not find the time every single person will be affected by this Gap in the future. Look at the numbers and they will calculate the future. The business communities have to push for more involvement in their local schools success. I challenge the Chamber of Commerce of Kent and Covington and Maple Valley to put on a Forum on the Crisis we have now with education and the crisis with closing the achievement gap. How many cuts in local school budgets can we afford to watch before our community becomes outraged? How many children have to fall behind before we see that investing today will be the pathto a Strong Nation and a great community that thrives. Politicians say the voters have spoken: “no new taxes.” I get this–I see people struggling…I see the trust of our citizens in government is diminishing overall. But…I have great Faith in the people in my neighborhood…in my communities that we have to start educating ourselves and our neighbors and perhaps even volunteering if necessary to help our kids do better in life. We have to care about our neighbors again because short term vision is going to become a long term reality that really none of us are prepared to live with. Again: “If we want to predict the future….we need to Invent it.”

We are in challenging times but as the saying goes:”when the going gets tough….the tough get going.” Our children and youth are this Nation and this community’s most important resource. Investing in them and closing the Gap in Achievement has to become our community’s focus. We are close to a point where we cannot turn this Nation and Community around but we still have time to wake up and roll our sleeves up and get to work.

I am running for the Kent School District Board Position 3

Because:

I believe kids are our biggest resource and we need to invest in them to reach their fullest potential in whatever career they choose to follow. We need to keep in mind, the one size fits all approach, does not work. I want to give our students a chance to compete in the global job market with the latest skills in technology if that is the career path they choose to follow. I want to offer vocational education skills if that is the area students wish to pursue. Community service, job shadowing, running start programs need to be continued at a high level to prepare students for future success. I want to offer the ability for students to learn online or in the classroom to meet their needs. I value the diversity of our School District and believe we should embrace it and celebrate it with our students and the people we seek out to employ in this District. I value teachers as the one component that can make a major difference in a child’s life and we should give them in every capacity the tools to effectively do the job and limit class size so they can make this possible. I believe I work for the taxpayers of this District and I need their input and partnership every step of the way to make this school district exceed all goals and expectations. I believe in fiscal responsibility and accountability.I am open to new techniques in learning and individual plans to meet each student’s needs.

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it”-Alan Kay

Developing and sustaining effective learning strategies will make this happen. I plan to be an on hands participant in being involved in what is taking place in all schools and at all levels.         

 Website:   http://www.votelesliehamada.org/

It is almost the end of February and I have been pondering over this article most of the month. February is about to draw to a conclusion and it is designated as the month we call: Black History Month. Yet….perhaps it is OK that my article is just now being posted as it will carry over to March. Really recognizing achievement of all races should just be an ongoing event and celebrating our diversity and great examples that stand out every day should continually be recognized. I was going in a total different direction on this article until I had the privilege of hearing this gentleman at a reception last week that I was invited to attend.

“What we think, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.” This statement by John Ruskin really sums up  Quinton Morris. When he walks on the stage to perform with his violin the only object you are focused on is the unbelievable quality of the music and that he makes the violin sing to you in such a way that you are transcended to a place where time and place do not matter. It is what he does with the violin that speaks volumes about the man and you do not even have to know him or his background. You just feel this sense of achievement, education, deep passion, hard work, love of life, overcoming barriers and you are lifted into a great feeling of euphoria.

Upon coming home I did research on this gentleman and what I found actually parallel the feelings projected in his playing.  Dr. Morris is an Assistant Professor, Music Fine Arts, Global African Studies. He has performed solo and chamber music in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. He has performed with Metropolitan Opera soprano Indra Thomas and Byron Schenkman at Benaroya Hall, concerto performances at the Champs-Elysee Theatre in Paris, France. the Guildhall School in London, England, the Roman Catholic Theatre in Bohn, Germany and the Austin Chamber Music Center in Austin, Texas. As the founder of The Young Eight String Octet the list of concerts is even more extensive. This group received a Medal of Honor by the United States Military for their commitment to public and community service.

Dr. Morris grew up in Renton. He began his education at Xavier University of Louisiana, where he studied Pre-Law and violin. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the North Carolina School of Arts and a Master of Music, degree from the Boston Conservatory. Recently, he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. In the community, he was the youngest member sworn in as vice-chair for the King County Children and Family Commission. Dr. Morris was recognized during Black History Month by the State of Washington’s House of Representatives for his accomplishments as both a teacher and musician.

His music when heard speaks to years of education and training but it also tells us so much more. He loves to read, swim, play basketball, roller-skate, ride go-carts,play jazz and he loves hip-hop music. What his playing also says is: he is a survivor-cancer survivor to be specific and one of the scariest musical experience he had was when he was in high school at a senior recital. At this time he was taking heavy doses of radiation for his treatment, it was extremely painful to play his violin, and during this recital he became very, very sick in the first half. During the second half of the concert he could hardly stand up but he finished that concert.

He is such an accomplished African American male like many have become. He certainly is one to be recognized and receive accolades for all his work, but he is so much more. He has had the benefit of so many before him that blazed the trail so he could become educated and recognized and have the opportunity to go after a higher and higher education. Yet….when you hear the music and what he does all you concentrate on is the music and his unbelievable ability to touch your emotions with the power of a human being that lives life to the fullest, reaches out to his community to serve, and has survived huge challenges in his own life because he loves life. You feel all that in the notes. What he does transcends who he is.

In closing,  a quote from Martin Luther King plays in my head:” With this Faith we will be able to transform the jangling of discords of our Nation in a Beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” The symphonies that Dr. Quinton Morris has played in professionally and in his personal life demonstrate the transformation of discords of our Nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.

When Gabrielle Gifford was gunned down in Arizona doing exactly what she was elected to do-meet with her constituents at a corner coffee hour and hear from them on their views we again watched in horror at the senseless violence that occurred.It rocked our sense of what America is all about: voicing our opinions, diversity, free speech, and right of assembly. Everyone again was tuned into their TV to watch the indepth coverage. It brought to light the need for more civility in our political views, and advocates were vowing to tone down their references to any type of violence and vowing to do things differently. Leaders from different segments of society said we need to have respect for one another and be sensitive to the way we express ourselves. Ten days later the President of China Hu Jinto is here on a National visit. He speaks at a press conference and his entire speech is given in his native language and the entire interpretation is saved until the end. Rush Limbaugh on his show is discussing the visit and issues and talks about the speech saying he was upset about the way they saved the translation to all at once at the end. He said that when the Chinese and Japanese  talk no one really understands what they are saying anyway as it all sounds alike and who knows if the translation was even correct. He took it a step further and began a comic routine that he thought was quite good and funny–mimicking the Chinese President in his made up language. This was just ten days after many were understanding why we needed to return to civility and respect for one another and focus on our difference in philosophy but do it in a respectful manner. Just from an educational point of view 1.5 billion people speak different dialects of Chinese —breaking it down that is 1 in 4 in our world. To have the microphone to many viewers and broadcast to the world that no one understands Chinese is to showcase your need for more education at the least. To carry on your show with hurting many people of the Asian culture and many others who respect diversity with a routine comedy act goes far beyond civility. Many of the Asian culture had to endure being made fun of in their past in the same method he choose to demonstrate on his show. Many endured much more—racial discrimination in their employment or lack thereof, in schools, in neighborhoods that they were allowed to reside, even told they could not purchase property or marry certain races, and forced into camps as the enemy. Those actions showed how quickly some people forget.

When Democrats and Republicans choose to sit side by side in the President’s State of the Union address to show the new US order of civility and respect going forth. Is it not time we all begin to walk the walk and not just talk the talk? And in Rush Limbaugh’s case—the talk was the disturbing act which was broadcast in many homes. Do we not all just need to stop and think about what we are saying and doing to each other each day. In the case of a person who commands the microphone or a large viewing audience or fans there should be even more of a thoughtful process of how you conduct yourself.

I, for one, think we can do better but we can not forget in 10 days or say it is up to someone else to begin—change begins within each of us. We also can never stop being shocked when violence occurs in our schools. This can never become the norm or accepted. Our children our this Nation’s most precious resource. It is our job everyday to protect them, nuture them, and make them prosper.

 After turning pro, Ebo fought to 22 wins, 3 defeats and 16 knockout victories.  He won the WBO Intercontinental, IBA and NABO Championships while winning a fight nominated for “Fight of the Year” and “Knockout of the Year” on Showtime in 2004.  This fight earned him a #5 world ranking by the WBA.  He also competed on the ESPN reality show, The Contender.

Outside of the ring Ebo has faced many tough battles as well. Seemingly his toughest fight has been with his wife of almost ten years, Amy.  They were childhood friends, high school sweethearts and married three weeks after graduation.  An unwillingness to accept the call of Christ in their lives led them to a divorce only two years later.  In their divorce Ebo turned towards drugs, alcohol and sex to find fulfillment, purpose and peace.  After failing to fill the void in his life, Ebo decided to end his life.  With a gun to his head God spoke to him and gave hope to a hopeless man.  Ebo and Amy’s story of reconciliation, remarriage, second chances and new beginnings is the heart of the message that Christ brings to all of us which is hope. They have been remarried for ten years and have four daughters.

Ebo became a Pastor in November 2009 and travels across the country fighting to see people of all ages come to live a life of power and purpose. He leads a weekly youth program called BrickHouse and Assistant Pastor of Calvary Chapel Heartland.

Unshakable Men Breakfast Ministry will host Pastor Ebo Elder speaking on the topic of “I Am Not”.  This monthly men’s breakfast ministry founded by John Glasser takes place on the second Saturday of every month offering a hearty style breakfast, a Pastor or special speaker bringing topics that relate to men and group discussion time afterwards. Unshakable Men Ministry is a parallel ministry to the local churches that connects men and Pastors together to grow in their faith and friendships. Unshakable Men Ministry is open to all men and teenage boys.  To sign up to attend the January’s breakfast go to

www.UnshakableMen.com.

SANTA ARRIVES KENT TOY DISTRIBTUION

Wednesday morning at 8am at the Kent Food Bank the volunteers were ready to help and the community gathered to help distribute toys donated by many other community members who were not there that morning. Collections were made at firestations, shopping areas, churches, and all the community stepped up to give kids those needed surprises on Christmas morning. This is the heart of the holidays to watch Scouts, Project (U)th, Church youth groups, the Firefighters of Kent, and neighbors coming together to help their fellow neighbors. The Firetruck arrrives with Santa to greet the children waiting in lines that stretched all around the Multi-Servie Center. Hot coffee was being provided by the Food Bank to some of the adults in line as it was a chilly but dry morning. More trucks arrive with new Bikes in the back. A semi-truck pulls up loaded with gifts to the top of the ceiling–volunteers begin to carry the gifts in the rooms already filled with gifts that had poured in during the week. They are distributed by age of child and sex of child. There are people at child age stations and others at the stocking stuffers stations. Everyone pulling together to make it happen for the children of our area. All giving of their time to help others—the real Holiday spirit.

 Pat and Bill Gray getting stuffers ready

Last Saturday at Covington Walmart you saw this same spirit of Community. The Maple Valley Rotary raised the funds for all the toys. The Community Center gathered the names of all the kids that needed special surprises and Sgt. Reid Johnson who heads up the KC “Shop with a Cop” had all the police there to interact with the youth and kids of the Community. They talked to police officers, had pictures with them, got to look at their police vehicles inside and out. It was a day of shopping with a Cop and having a real good memory of being with a police officer.

Sgt. Reid Johnson and his Shop with Cops

These two events and many more that have happened all around our community show we still are communities that can get things done and work for all our members of the community for the common good. It offers those special gifts of the season of Hope, and Caring, and Love.

It has been my pleasure to share events throughout the year on my Community Blog. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season for all those special days you celebrate now and into the New Year.

This morning I would also like to share with you perhaps one of those secret Santa gifts that has gone on all year long and even before that. People and people’s actions can be the greatest of gifts. We just passed an election period and the ads that were flying on TV and in print and the political exchanges were enough to make one consider cancelling your cable. We pick up the paper and turn on the TV and see political figures doing acts that certainly do not meet —best practices. I want to share with you quite the opposite. It has been my privilege in the last year to get to know up, close. and personal in a professional manner—Chief Brad Doerflinger. What a breath of fresh air. How wonderful to learn that a person working in our government services is doing such a great job and really putting his job and the people he serves and their tax dollars and well being  through maintaining level of service above his own getting ahead or financial well being. Yes….that is why we put these individuals in positions of authority and power but how many value and maintain that once they are there. I watched and learned that Brad waited until his division was secure and could handle financially himself being placed as Chief. He accepted the lower salary as Interim to maintain the budget level. I watched as he investigated the potential to merge the Maple Valley Fire District into a potential regional fire authority to save the tax payers money by the merger. This investigation did not come to a merit position to do so but he looked into this thoroughly. This merger would have made sure he did not become Chief and his salary again would have been impacted on it. But….he did the right thing for the taxpayers of this Fire District. I’d also like to share with you in 2009 some cost cutting implications that he implemented:

*Wage and Benefit savings since 2009

• Training Captains (vacancy provided by joining the Kent/Sea Tac/MV training consortium)
• Facilities Manager(responsibilities redistributed)
• Deputy Chief of Operations (responsibilities redistributed)
• Two Firefighters positions (two shifts have a firefighter vacancy and running short

- Annual savings—approximately $648,544

*Program cuts beginning in 2009

• Health and wellness Physicals–$35,000
• Deputy Chief Program–$20,000
• Volunteer Program restructure-$98,750
• Special Operation overtime-$17,000
• Removal of Administrative raises-$22,000
• Union concessions-$124,000
• Operational Overtime-$70,000

-Total Reductions-$386,750

 The long and the short of the point to my article is often times gifts all around us go unnoticed. It was such a special gift to find an Interim Fire Chief doing exactly what he is paid to do but doing it in such a highly professional and unselfish manner and doing it for the people he represents and works for and most important putting Service above Self. I for one want to thank this man for those secret Santa gifts and know if I reach for the phone at my home in trouble I want this department and its head on the other end of the phone.

Take a moment and let this Chief know and wish him a :”Merry Christmas!”

When we stop and recognize Veterans Day it is what lies at the foundation of what built the opportunity for generations to come to even experience the new philosophy. November 11 is a holiday for schools, government buildings, and banks. Many will let it slip by unrecognized and have a day to do things all about me which has become a dominate factor of newer generations—all about me. I will be traveling to the Yakima Valley to honor my father’s name on a plague in a new memorial placed there by the Veterans organization of that city. I have encouraged my children and grandchildren to stop their busy lives and go along. They honor my request. My dad like most Vets probably wasn’t very excited about leaving all his familiar surroundings and going off to foreign countries to do the work of war. He was born and raised in a small town less than 500 population in Montana. He enlisted because he wanted to go off with all his other friends from Montana and they all knew it was just a matter of time until they all would be drafted—single, young men –ripe for the pickings. I do not remember him talking much about his service time. But, of course, being a baby boomer and a kid—I really wasn’t very interested in listening to any of it anyway. I remember during Vietnam talking about R and R—and my dad said—when he went oversees —he did not come back for 5 and a half years. I remember him talking about his long boat ride to the African Shores and saying that was one of the worst experiences of his life—everyone was sick by the time they reached their destination. I remember him telling me it was a chance for him to see all parts of the world—Africa, Italy…France. I remember from time to time small recurrences of the after affects of Malaria—but it is only until today that I understand the full impact of what that did to him. He never made a big deal about it. I use to marvel how he could fall asleep in a room full of noise and recall he once said to me –“in the war if you did not learn to sleep with lots of noise and bombs falling and shots around you—you never slept!!!” As a kid I just did not get it. What I did get was that when I was old enough to vote—I registered. I voted in every election since and not just on the major elections but the little local issues and the school bonds issues and on and on. I took that issue very seriously—and it came from my parents. What I did get was when it was popular to protest the War in Vietnam—I honored the troops. What I did get was that when I was in my early thirties and traveled to Puerto Rico and looked over the village of hundreds of people living in card board boxes—I was blessed to be an American citizen!!! What I did get was that when you pledge your allegiance to the United States of America at Basketball games—school assemblies—etc.. it means something!!! That takes me full circle to my trip to the Valley this week. It is important for me and my children and their children to stop for a few moments of our day and recognize the importance of the tremendous sacrifice that men and women in uniform have done in the past and do today to continue our basic freedoms that each of us to some degree take for granted. We can never afford to do that. Regardless of how we stand about our beliefs on war. Patrick Henry once said: “ The price of Liberty is constant vigilance.” He was right years ago and he is right today. Each of us can serve each day by participating in this great country of ours. Take voting seriously. Participate in our communities. Value the educational opportunities for all young people. Volunteer!

As to my dad—he is just symbolic of all Veterans throughout time doing what he thought he should do at a particular time in history. And because of these average men and women who came from all walks of life who did extraordinary things and simply did not make a big deal about it—I enjoy the beautiful free life of being an American!!!!! My dad’s generation has been labeled as the “Greatest Generation”. For me this private man was: “Simply the BEST!!”

This coming Wednesday, September 15, 2010 from 9:30am -3:30PM there will he a wonderful conference on: Creating the Political Will to End Homelessness in Ten Years. This is the 10th Political Will Annual Conference and the keynote speakers will be Rev. David Bloom, ITFH Founding Director and Richard LeMieux.  The Conference title: 5 Years,…..Are We On Track? The sponsor is the InterFaithTask Force on Homelessness. There will be great workshops all throughout the day and a wonderful lunch which comes with the registration fee. Many of ITFH partners will be at the table: Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, Lutheran Public Policy, Washington Association of Churches, South King County Homeless Forum, Shared Bread-Kent United Methodist emergency assistance program, and the Church Council of Greater Seattle.

Online registration: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118573

—-or—register at the door  scholarships are available—-

If as a society we do not thrive to reach out with compassion to our neighbors we will lose what made this such a great Nation. People reaching out to their fellow neighbors to give them a hand and in these times like harder economic times of the past that means a hand up. In any Nation or Country that still has the means as the United States does people should be given the basics of survival: the access to -shelter, food, and safety. The smile you can give to people who may seem so rude to you could change their lives. The simple kindness we show to our fellow man is given back to us in a multitude of ways. Take this opportunity to get more educated on these issues and you, too can be the instrument to make a difference.

KUMC Mission Trip to San Francisco Aug 2010

Early on August 16ththe women of the Kent United Methodist Church were up putting the last supplies into their suitcases for the intense week of Mission work in San Francisco. They were scheduled to help Monday and Tuesday evening with the dinner feeding at Glide Memorial Methodist Church in the tenderloin District of San Francisco where everyday they feed people in need of a good meal with no questions asked—they just feed them. Glide Memorial faced a major change in its direction of the church when Cecil Williams entered in the 60′s to lead this church into social outreach and justice. Quite recently, Will Smith starred in a movie which was based on a true story filmed at Glide Memorial. After 4 intense hours of working the assembly line and wiping tables, picking up trays, filling coffee, and interacting with the patrons at this feeding kitchen each night these seven women knew that they had put their Faith into action by providing a meal to over 1,000 people in need that night. Overwhelming when you think about it. One might think just participating in this act of kindness would be enough but not for this dynamic group. They were out to also accomplish much more.

Gum Moon Community Center is also sponsored by the United Methodist Women. It is a Community Center that helps Asian Chinese immigrants in many capacities and women facing serious problems in society. Some are victims of domestic violence, many rescued from serious bad situations and now have transitional housing where they will find help getting English skills, job skills, budgeting, counseling, and life skills. It is truly a place for them to find a new life and opportunities for success. They also house pre-school children and teach them and many other after school programs for youths.  So Tuesday morning before doing the feeding at Glide this same group of women were up again early and split the group in half. Half worked with the children sharing with them how to bake cookies, reading to them, and just playing and interacting.

 Norma King and Lora Lee Brown cooking with the children

Leslie Hamada reading to children

The other half taught the women housed there and others that came in how to make unique clever purses with fabric for themselves or to sell for profit and also how to make beautiful jewelry with beads. They produced earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Quality items they could also sell and make a home business venture successful.

Mercedes Hanlon working with purses

Jenni Yeoh teaching beads

Linda Roser and Joan Roberts helping ladies

The last part of the week was directed toward helping withGum Moon’s big Fund Raiser 10 course Dinner on Friday night. The women made 36 dried lavender center pieces for tables, eight fresh flower arrangements with small EifeelTowers lit with battery operated candles for the sponsor tables that contributed 10 thousand a table. Four large fresh flower sprays for special guests and 40 fresh flower corsages. The final contribution was appetizers and deserts for 500. Their contributions and talents helped make this Fund Raiser a huge success.

It is said: “the hand the rocks the cradle rules the world.” Whether true or not this dynamic group accomplished great things for the City of San Francisco in one short week and will continue in all their individual projects to make SKC a more beautiful, kind, and giving place. Watch out for the Power of a few Good Women.

“Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature….if the next centennial does not find us a great nation…..it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.” This is part of an address that President James Garfield gave in his Centennial Address to Congress in 1876. You can easily substitute the national part of it for state and local.

Now, more than ever each one of us needs to take a portion of our day and turn off the cell phones, the e-mails, the social networks, the twitter, the TV, and the DVDs and work in our own government programs and entities to become informed and involved in our Country, State, and local representation. How many of us do not vote in our elections? How many of us take the time if we do vote to really know the candidates or the issues? When was the last time you attended a local school board meeting and learned what is going on in our schools or City Council Meeting?  How many of us read several news sources? How many of us take the time to question the news that is reported?

Each day we are getting wake up calls. The latest fiasco of Shirley Sherrod should teach us that we need (all of us) media–government agencies, and even the White House needs to study what is going on, educate ourselves, and quit thinking we can do it in a 90 second sound bite or be informed in the characters limited in a twitter. I have to admit that I am old enough to remember sitting in my car with 2 young children–another on the way—in a long line waiting for gas when it was my day according to last name alphabet to get Gas. It was difficult to sit in a car and entertain little ones for sometimes over an hour until my place in line to gas came up. I accepted this policy years ago and started to reduce my trips to the store or wherever because I realized Gas was a privilege and needed to be used only when needed. Well….as soon as I accepted the policy and changed my habits that policy was thrown out the window. If we had maintained just a small portion of the policy of realizing we have to ration our usage and prepare alternative fuels as we began in the 70′s today I can only imagine what progress we might have made. Progress has an element of sacrifice to it always. I am not sure we are teaching this to our next generations. Involvement has to have at its core commitment and time.

Yes…I hear the same answers that times have changed. We are so much busier now. The world has become more complex. All those things may be true. But now more than ever we need to become involved. We need to tune in not tune out. We need to communicate with our neighbors in person not just via the Internet. We need to advocate for our beliefs.

The choice of course is yours. But if you do not…. it is a very real possibility that we could lose everything this Nation, this country, and our people have worked for so many years to have.

As the Immigration Issue has heated up and there has been a crackdown in business for workers to produce social security cards or documentation to work legally in this country we have seen more people applying for financial assistance for rent or utilities in undocumented workers. In the past, they were working and paying their housing and bills but now with the increased pressures they have lost any means to support themselves and find their lives in crisis. I am not writing to push for a policy on this issue one way or the other. Believe me, I do have my own personal thoughts on this issue. But what I wish to express in this article is the huge disappointment I have that our representatives and government officials have swept this issue under the rug for so long and not dealt with this issue and now it is a crisis. Why are we Citizens and voters allowing our elected officials to get a Pass on not really doing their job? Where is the outrage? We did not vote for these individuals to collect a pay check and attend ribbon cutting ceremonies and each year vote to have an increase in their pay. We voted for them to carry on the tradition of working hard for this country and making decisions that were not popular but for the common good. It appears before common sense can prevail in voting or tackling these major issues politicans are quick to run their polls or focus groups to see what the popular thing is to do. What ever happened to knowing what the right thing is to do and doing it regardless if it brings you votes or money to your next campaign. In my belief system politics is not just a job, it is a higher calling. Ask yourself why so many of our brightest and most talented would never consider running in an elected position? Ask yourself why it has become popular for the rich to spend millions on state races? Where is the outrage?

This past week again I have witnessed up close and personal the pain of not dealing with the immigration issue. Before me was a young girl who excelled in school and was being rewarded with a scholarship to college. She should be on top of the world right? Think again. Her father was arrested and is facing deportation back to Mexico. Her mother faces everyday the issue of when will she be next and then what will happen to the younger children who were born in the United States. How will they exist without their parents? How can the young girl even think about starting college in the fall when one source of her support financially is now deported and her mother does not make enough to cover the rent? Is this an isolated incident…no. Each week in the interviews for assistance more often than not, I look into the faces of the babies held by their mothers who are fussing because they know they sense tension  in their parents that need help. They are too young to understand what the problem is but they feel the problem when their parents are holding them. Their basic needs of shelter, heat, and food are being threatened. These needs in the past had been met and now because policies have changed their lives have changed. When the country financially advanced because of cheap labor it was ok to not follow the law, but now when budgets are broke from an overload of services being drained the following of the law is now what is expected. If you are a parent or you have worked as a teacher or person working with kids that have set boundaries and rules for those kids to follow and live by what does it tell you when suddenly you change the rules. Are those kids now in complete confusion as to what to do? How to act? What really is or was—right or wrong? Where is the good guidance? Where are the leaders blazing the trails and showing society the way to get back on track and direction?

What ever happened to leaders who made the tough choices? Would set the policies and follow the law in good or bad times? How can we expect our communities and our societies to function in a normal path when no one is implementing what the rule of law is and following it. How can we expect to have a blueprint for success when no one is drawing up the plans? Do we not owe our children and all people a future that has a directed path of what will be.  I, for one, am outraged and writing my representatives to address this issue. After all, good government demands the Citizens take an active part and be vigilant in voting and making our representative accountable. Each of us has the power within ourselves to make our leaders make the tough choices.

Senator speaks to luncheon

 On June 1, at Newcastle Golf and Country Club community and government leaders rallied to support the programs of the Greater King County Activities-Athletic League—PAL. The ballroom was filled with supporters from King County and the State. The Keynote speaker was Senator Patty Murray who was instrumental in getting to this organization money for mentoring in the schools for this organization. She spoke of the great need to help our kids through after school programming and mentoring-tutoring. United States Congressman Dave Reichert who has worked hard to implement this program in King County was not able to attend. Sheriff Sue Rahr spoke and also addressed the need for police officers to have their first initial meeting with kids in positive programs instead of when they get in trouble. Attorney General Rob McKenna is also a great supporter and spoke next.

Attorney General Rob McKenna addresses the luncheon

  The National President of PAL spoke next and stated how being in PAL programs as a youth made him want to become a police officer and for young African Americans when he grew up it was not a profession they were readily signing up to join. The next speaker was Tina Hendrix of the Hendrix Music Academy and she spoke of the reason why she was forced to move out of the neighbor she lived in because of the violence and how she is reaching out to help kids through various music programs and partnering with PAL do that.

Sgt. Reid Johnson and the White Center Boxing Club

Sgt. Reid Johnson was praised throughout the event for his great efforts to manage and lead all the various PAL Programs. They range from bonding with Pets—to Boxing for Kids—to shopping with a Cop in Covington. This is a part of Sgt. Johnson’s job in addition to many other responsibilities.

Representative Pat Sullivan joins Kent East Hill Kids Club Table which is just starting off as a new PAL Program

Dr. Vargas, KSD Superintendent, Dennis Higgins, Kent City Council Member, Sharon Cornish, Cascade Promise, Rich Wagoner & Virginia Haugen, City of Auburn City Council Members all joining the Kent East Hill Kids Boxing table to support our kids

 May 27, Kent East Hill Kids (PAL) Boxing Club held their first meeting at Phoenix Academy to discuss the after school program they will be starting in that area. They signed up 17 kids and there is room for many more. They also sponsored a table at the PAL luncheon fundraiser which is a new program which PAL will act a s a fiscal agent for support. If you have questions regarding this new program direct them to Executive Director Leslie Hamada @ leslie.hamada@yahoo.comor 253-631-3895. The program will run 4 days after school and is going to emphasize the following: conditioning, exercise, nutrition, positive confllict resolution, mentoring, tutoring, and high academic achievement. It will be housed in the East Hill area.

A handout that was discussed listed:

 The Current Teacher Evaluation Categories:

• Instructional Skill
• Classroom Management
• Professional Preparation and Scholarship
• Effort Toward Improvement When Needed
• Handling of Student Discipline and Attendance Problems
• interest in Teaching Pupils
• Knowledge of Subject Matter

New Teacher Evaluation Categories:

• Centering instruction on high expectations for student achievement
• Demonstrating effective teaching practices
• Recognizing individual student learning needs and developing strategies to address those needs
• Providing clear and intentional focus on subject matter content and curriculum
• Fostering and managing a safe, positive learning environment
• Using multiple student data elements to modify instruction and improve student learning
• Communicating with parents and school community
• Exhibiting collaborative and collegial practices focus on improving instructional practice and student learning

Current Principal Evaluation Categories:

• Knowledge of, experience in and training in recognizing good professional performance, capabilities and development
• School administration and management
• School Finance
• Professional preparation and scholarship
• Effort toward improvement when needed
• Interest in pupils, employees, patrons and subjects taught in school
• Leadership
• Ability and performance of evaluation of school personnel

New Principal Evaluation Categories:

• Creating a school culture that promotes the ongoing improvement of learning and teaching for students and staff
• Providing for school safety
• Leads development, implementation and evaluation of a data-driven plan for increasing student achievement, including the use of multiple student data elements
• Assisting instructional staff with the alignment of curriculum, instruciton and assessment with state and local district learning goals
• Monitoring, assisting and evaluating effective instruction and assessment practices
• Managing both staff and fiscal resources to support student achievement and fiscal resources to support students achievement and legal responsibilities
• Partnering with the school community to promote student learning
• Demonstrating commitment to closing the achievement gap

A Booklet composed of ideas from an educator-driven recommendations basis to Improve Washington Schools with a local Representative from Kent-Covington area—Brooke Valentine contributing heavily to that many ideas brought forth in that Report was also passed out to those in attendance which was put together by Stand for Children.

The ideas that evening and listed in above categories needs the involvement heavily from everyone in the KSD Community. I would like to see Forums and Discussions on a Quarterly Basis brought up in our Community sponsored by various Civic or Government groups. We have to all get involved in making our education system better and not just showing up when problems arise. I hope to get lots of discussions going in my Blog and other places regarding the current and new categories listed  and how you feel about our schools and what directions you feel we need to be pursuing or not pursuing. We, as a Society have to care more about our education system because it will fuel and generate the future of this country.

Halo Network Foundation Barista Program in Action at Kona Kai

Nationally, youths facing Homelessness is on the rise. They make-up about 27% of the Homeless population today. In the start of the school year, one high school in the Kent School District listed 98 students who registered homeless. This statistic should be alarming to all of us living in the SKC area for it is the future of our local economy and it is the future of human services problems. If our young people do not have stable housing it becomes harder for them to concentrate on doing well in school or even staying in school. With today’s challenging economy kids turning 18 are told by their parents, you are on your own now, we cannot not afford to take care of you anymore and you have to leave. If they are lucky enough to have a high school education to be sent off with no nest egg in their back pocket to take care of just basic needs can be overwhelming.   You are also seeing foster kids of the State facing this reality all to often once they reach the age the State will now consider them adults–they are shown the door.

Homelessness can lead to habits young people never had before being in that situation. If they had other issues such as: substance abuse, mental health, or anger,  it will only get worse. In addition, many become victims of the more savvy individuals who are ready to prey upon these younger individuals and lead them into lines of work which will take them down dark paths in their lives.

One of the bright stars in these building statistics are individuals and organizations stepping up to try to help stop the rise in these statistics. The Halo Network Foundation is one of them. They have created a Barista Program that is trying hard in Kent, Washington to get its start and help turn statistics around. The owners of the Kona Kai Coffee Company. Mychal and Maryum Boiser want to make a difference. They want to, in addition to running a successful business, help kids to be trained to be Baristas and give them the tools to have a job, make an income, and support themselves. While doing this they are mentoring and providing that one on one adventure to help that youth become a successful, educated, enriched member of society.

You, too, can play a huge part in ending Homelessness for our youths and at the same time really enjoy great food and great contemporary Jazz. May 15, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. in Kent at the Kona Kai Coffee Company business downtown at 124 4th Ave. South. There is a Jazz and Dinner Benefit sponsored by Halo Network Foundation. The wonderful menu consists of Beef Wellington or Jawaiian Spiced Ono as the main entree choices. In addition great entertainment by local Jazz Artist, Darren Motamedy. His work is soulful, passionate, and smooth. Tickets are going to go fast. Call them at 253-859-5662 or go in to Kona Kai and pick them up.

Don’t miss this opportunity to help make a difference in our community in ending Homelessness for our Youth!!!!

Sister Helen Prejean, left, Author “Dead Man Walking” talking with Leslie Hamada

Thursday April 15th at St. Madeleine Sophie Parish in Bellevue the special guests of the Good Samaritan Society had the rare pleasure of hearing Sister Prejean lecture regarding her Social Justice ventures that extended beyond her Parish duties into the Community at large in New Orleans and led her to write her first book:  Dead Man Walking and her second Death of Innocence.  The Book was made into a very famous Oscar winning movie. When you meet this beautiful lady and hear her speak you know that she may be small in size but she has powerful Faith and she has been on an unbelievable journey into serious issues of justice in Society. She was raised in a middle-upper class environment and attended private Catholic schools growing up. Her Parish in New Orleans took her into environments that were very different from her upbringings. Her adventure that led her to write her first book began when she agreed to write a prisoner on death row. It changed her whole life and  today she leads a crusade against the death penalty.

She was a delightful and captivating speaker. Regardless of  your stand on the death penalty, when you hear her say that:” your Faith is very clear that when you walk next to a prisoner headed for his final execution, with chains on his legs, rendered helpless, that this act is wrong” is a Powerful message. Reading through both her books Social Injustice jumps out at you in the statistics she quotes on many pages and makes you painfully aware that has happened in our justice system. We were Blessed to have her in our area to share her insight and words of wisdom if only for a brief time.

Kent Stakeholders pictured with Alberto Retana, US Department of Education right to left: Lawrence Lombard, African American Cultural Center President, Brian Steward, Kent Parks Department, Chandra Simmons-Gary, Advocate African American Cultural Center, Mr. Retana, and Leslie Hamada, Community Activist

On April 23, 2010 at 3:00 PM at the Rivers & Associates Business/Resource Technology Center Mr. Alberto Retana/Director of Community Outreach who reports directly to the Secretary of Education was in the SKC and Seattle Area to speak with

Community Stakeholders regarding what is going on in our schools in the local area, what we see as problems, how can

Communities come together and make things better and hear directly from people who are working hard in our diverse communities to implement change and better schools for our children. Several different races, ethnic backgrounds, and

religions were represented in that room. Everyone who spoke and talked had their thoughts and ideas written down by

Mr. Retana.He plans to take these thoughts and ideas back to his Boss and President Obama. “This Administration wishes to connect with the people in the fields touching the kids and the people everyday,” he shared with the group. “We want to hear your voices.”

Mr. Retana, prior to having his current job, worked in LA as a Community Organizer in some very rough neighborhoods.

He said the hardest part in taking on this new job was leaving all the friends and people he cared about so much. He was able

to entrench himself in their lives and stay in one area. With his new job comes traveling all over the country and meeting new

people and hearing from them but he is not able to stay in one community long before he moves to the next area of the Country.

However, he will be returning to Seattle in about three months to talk with this group again and hear from all more concerns

and what is working and not. The Department of Education is planning to release lots of Grants(SIG) to help with issues facing schools and he explained what many areas of focus will be. He also explained how the group needs to go back to their

communities and explain what is coming down the pipeline to get in line to receive this funding. He asked everyone there

to continue the communication through e-mails and phone calls. Toward the end of the Program which went on for about 5 hours youths were brought in to discuss what they liked about their schools and what could be made better if they had

been able to tell President Obama what would help them more.

From the audience of adults and youths came great ideas and insight of problems in our local areas. The youths spoke to the issue that different teaching methods work with different kids and if they implemented more variety in learning techniques this would help more students something educators today are exploring in many school districts. The youths also spoke to needing more one on one time with their teachers. This across the country also we have been seeing ask for by unions and parents. Mr. Retana toward the end went through all the notes he had written down about what was discussed and he expanded on all those issues. He spoke to an issue that had not been brought up before—the administrators have their advocates, the school boards have their voice, and the teachers have their unions but where is the parent’s union.

It was really a remarkable experience to be able to have your local voice taken directly to Washington DC and the Education

Department. It was a small enough group that people could talk and have great dialogue. It was refreshing to feel that your

Federal government was taking the time to listen to the people and people who may not always be invited to policy making

meetings—people touching the lives of kids in their communities each day. Mr. Retana is very skilled as a facilitator and you

felt he heard what you were saying and cared about each person’s comments. The people in the room all left with great ideas on how to carry the knowledge of potential Federal government spending into the Community.

Islanders

Friday afternoon when I walked into the High School I had no idea what an afternoon of entertainment I was going to experience.

When the bell rang kids began coming in from many directions for the afternoon assembly. The gym was packed. I felt lucky to have a great front row seat on the floor reserved for the community. Then it began, a wonderful show of all the groups and clubs

in Kent Meridian doing their best to dance and entertain in costumes of their culture. The East Asia Club, the Nepal Dance Group, The Filipino Group, The African Youth Club, The Bringing the Seas Group, the Islanders, the M.E.Ch. A and the Break Club. The costumes were beautiful. The dancing superb. If I did not know better I would have thought I was in the Paramount in Seattle and had paid a nice price for a ticket.

They were simply amazing.  The huge positive support coming from the crowd of fellow peers was similar to a big Pep Assembly before a rival school game. It warmed my heart to see a school so engaged in teaching the Community a lesson in culture and dress and dance all the time while you felt you were enjoying the entertainment.

This really exemplifies the make-up of the Kent Community at large—diverse in race, creed, and culture. It also demonstrates

the tremendous talent in our youth and the great passion they bring to life and their schools. It made me proud to be part of the

Committee that just helped pass the recent Levy proposals.

Often times in today’s challenging economy we get overwhelmed with all the negative news and it also floods over into what

some young people are doing—-to get themselves in trouble. But watching these talented —bright—supportive young people

gives you such Hope for the future. Investing in our young people and their education is this country’s future. Our kids are

our greatest resource.

Board. The evening before the Board and Administrators had held a meeting that was an Open Forum for comments by all

interested parties on the remaining Capital Improvements on the District’s list that were left for completion from the original list

that was developed for the 2006 Bond that passed for those improvements. The list of improvements will all be eventually completed as they were agreed as needed and the money passed in 2006 to do just that. But with the challenging economy

the selling of Bonds at optimum price can be a tricky business. To complete all the projects at once became impossible so the

Board was left to examine all the needs and priorities and place some projects on a further out continuum. Forums and meetings

have been conducted by the School District officials to allow the public to have comments about their particular projects. 

Kent Meridian High School had a large turn out for their official Forum earlier in the month. Including students, coaches,

parents, and supporters who turned out to say—they wanted their schools needs addressed now. They were tired of being put off

and being embarrassed by the condition of their gym and locker facilities. Representatives addressed the social justice and equity issues even.

The night of the Board’s forum March 23 the KM PTA was prepared. They filled the Board room with supporters. When asked by President Linda Novak, in her presentation to the Board ,would all those supporting KM please stand there was only one person

that did not stand and that person decided to join the supporters and slowly stood also. The moving testimony of all the parents,

coaches, and outside of the area representatives was extraordinary. Stand for Children spoke up. PAID spoke up in the ongoing activism of social justice in which Dale Smith has pursued. The crowning glory was the Petition presented to the School Board with over 700 signatures of the Kent Meridian Students wanting their voice to be heard. They signed in support of having the Kent Meridian Project Improvements being placed at the top of the list. This in itself was an act of Civics 101 by the students. Participating and supporting their school and asking that their Board hear their needs.

The Board responded by hearing their needs and all the needs of each school. But they agreed that Kent Meridian High School Projects did merit addressing sooner rather than later.

In the world of advocacy and letting parents and individuals see they can make a difference by being involved and showing up

and being the voice for education issues or Capital Improvements Issues or social justice issues it simply does not get any better. The supporters of KM felt their representatives heard them and acted with good business sense and with great communication sense.

That night when I walked out of that Board Meeting the Stars shown a little brighter in the Heaven and for a brief moment I felt

that all was right in this world.

have been selected for in-person interviews tonight from a field of eight. One will be selected to fill the open seat that

Chris Davies left in District 2. We all need to care about these important Board positions because they not only affect our

schools but our tax dollars and how they are spent. The candidates that will be interviewed are:

Karen DeBruler

Ben Kodama

Carol Liu

Meghin Margel

Robert North

Take this opportunity to learn about the people making decisions about our Kids in this Community which are our most

precious resource.

After the interviews the Board will go into a private session and select the final candidate—they will take office March 10.

Good schools and good government takes the active involvement of the Community.

information on this issue. This is a competition between states, and the states that make the strongest reforms to education are the ones with the “BEST SHOT” at this additional funding for their State.

How do you fit into this picture—get involved today and call your two Representatives on the Washington State Education Committee:

Representative Pat Sullivan—360-786-7858

and

Representative Tina Orwall—360-786-7834

Tell their assistants or leave a voice message that you strongly support the Priest Amendments to SB 6696

These amendments have been initiated by Representative Skip Priest from Federal Way

They state as follows:

• Have the State design a new teacher evaluation system, instead of pushing that responsibility onto individual districts,

at a time when our districts (especially here in the KSD area) don’t have the extra money to design a new system.

• Make student growth one of the metrics in that new evaluation system

We are in critical times in this Nation’s History with our government, schools, infrastructure, and society as a whole. How it all

shakes out is going to be up to us. We have the power to make Differences by getting informed and getting involved.

Take a few minutes today and make those calls to the people we elect to have our voice heard on major education reform.

If we want to stretch our tax dollars even further you and I have to become advocates. Advocates for our Kids Future and Our

Posterity as a whole. Now get going and pick-up those phones and change the future of Education in Washington.

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/cmv/opinion/letters/81896572.html

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/opinion/82123007.html

http://www.dailysunnews.com/ARCHIVES/Story.aspx/6055/guest-editorial

By now you have seen the headlines of the ruling of KC Superior Court Judge Erlick in his ruling to fully fund Education. Of course, the State has the right to appeal this ruling. In addition, this ruling carries no timeline for the Wa. State legislature to comply with the ruling. Many factors are still up in the air but it is an important ruling because it forces our legislators to begin to at least have conversations on how we are going to address these issues. It comes at our most challenging economic times. I am confident that the good people of Washington will find a way to creatively make things work more effectively for all the Kids in our State. The make  up of our schools and the times have in my opinion changed so dramatically that our school system has not been able to keep up. What worked 10 years ago may not work today. We have new issues as a society to deal with and competition that is Global which never happened when I attended school. I think just like in our Politics we have to start listening to each others opinions in a more civil way and just because we have differences of opinion—not be so quick to just walk away from the table. We need to find that common link to humanity and the common good and start gearing all our policies and conversations toward it. On another Education Issue and really a health issue. Before the Rules Committee which just passed out of the House Education Committee is a Bill which would help reduce costs to Washington State in the obesity column. It is HJM 4002 and it carries no money with it. Urge the rules committee to pull it out for a vote. Your health costs and mine could benefit from it.

I look forward to an open exchange of topics and issues that I am heavily involved with from day to day. In the meantime—

Make each day matter because none of us knows how many we have. Seize the moment–

the busy Bee buzzing on the streets