The Buzz on the Streets
The 47th District: Issues, Insight & Interaction
Kent Meridian High School Multicultural Assembly What talented Students
April 6th, 2010 at Tue, 6th, 2010 at 9:42 pm by lesliehamada
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.
lesliehamada Leslie is a wife, mother, & grandmother. She has worked in marketing, communications, & writing professionally. For the past 17 years she has resided in the Covington area and doing volunteer work in the King County Area. While her children attended University Place Schools she was actively involved in youth activities and PTA. She was in executive leadership in the organization as President in school PTA on all levels. In addition she held a District PTA leadership position. Currently her youngest child Lisa is a teacher and last year was recognized as NASPE 2009 High School Physical Education Teacher of the Nation. Her two sons are employed in Computer and engineer firms. She has two beautiful grandchildren. Leslie's pride & joy is Pee Wee Hamada her stay at home Cocker spaniel and her inspiration for her first Children's Book: "Pee Wee's Adventure In the Woods" which addresses boundaries for young children and safety issues through an exciting animal book. Leslie has been actively involved in her Community volunteering for over 40 years. She has mentored in high risk elementary schools since college. Presently she is Director for emergency services for her church Kent United Methodist. She is Chair of the Kent Ecumenical Network Board. It is her sixth year on Catholic Community Advocacy Board. She received an award last year from Governor Gregoire for work with felons. This past year she was recognized for work in social justice and poverty by the South King County Human Service Commission. Last year she received an award from the Southern Sudanese Organization in Seattle. In 2005 she received the SKC Award for the Spirit of Caring. In 2005 she traveled to San Francisco to work at the Soup Kitchen of Glide Memorial and help with immigrant Chinese pre-school students at Gum Moon Community. Her passion is working with kids and social justice issues. Presently she is working to start a Kids Boxing Program in the Kent East Hill area to give the kids a great after school program.
More articles by lesliehamada >
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