DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE FAITH INITIATIVE

The Department of Juvenile Justice Faith Initiative has been serving 60 to 100 hours monthly for the past five years. Rev. John Ferro founded the Faith Initiative by first recruiting “faith volunteers.”

Rev. Ferro went to various churches in the Daytona area to publicize this ministry. Each volunteer is required to have background screenings with the Department of Juvenile Justice. Many youth that are in the Department of Juvenile Justice have never attended church. Rev. Ferro enables them to find their spirituality and talk to someone about faith. He is the contact person for all the churches and responsible for continuing to publicize the mission and purpose of the Faith Initiative.

Members of various churches visit various facilities such as the Stewart-Marchman Center, the Juvenile Detention Center, and the Volusia House. The volunteers visit each center at least weekly. Some of the volunteers choose to go several times a week to council teenagers on a one-on-one basis. In addition, church groups hold services every Saturday evening for any of the youth who want to attend as well as Bible lessons and individual counseling. The Faith Initiative is responsible for this as well as providing special times for the youth during the holidays. For the past five years, the Faith Initiative has sponsored pizza parties for the youth during Christmas and provided gifts for approximately 100 of the clients. They also held a service at the Volusia House and the Detention Center in addition to the party.

The Faith Initiative has given the youth more than a “program.” They get to talk to someone who cares about them and is concerned about their welfare. This group gives the young people an opportunity to find a higher power, which results in them feeling better about themselves and being better people.

Rev. Ferro and the other members of the Faith Initiative work to bring faith, spirituality, and hope to youth who chose to participate in their activities. He has been inspired by many people, but he daily works to “ do more with his Faith Community,” as President Bush suggested in one of his speeches. Rev. Ferro is the founder and organizer; however, he can also be seen spending quality time with the youth himself. He visits with them and counsels them and is always on call if a special need arises. Rev. Ferro and the Faith Initiative volunteers spend hours of time in prayer as preparation for their mission of serving the youth. They then dedicate many hours of the week to give of themselves to hundreds of youth who feel they have no one else.

KATHLEEN MURRAY

Kathleen Murray is not the typical volunteer. Her life can be summed up in one word – “service.” Her story begins at the age of two, when a childhood accident almost cost her life and her vision. She ended up losing vision in her right eye at the age of five and is half-blind. She endured more than 12 operations growing up and a lasting scar on her eye “set her aside in the eyes of society” for a good part of her life. She now wears her hair where she is able to “hide” her eye a little bit. It still draws attention and stares, but she has become confident to handle it with dignity, style and grace. Dealing with these experiences and her lifelong physical flaw has formed who she is as a human being.

Kathleen Murray attended an all women’s college in Washington, DC, but left to be with her grandmother was dying. Afterward, she left for New Orleans where she worked for Covenant House as a full-time volunteer working more than 60 hours per week in exchange for room and board and $15 a week. She worked with “throw-away” kids on the streets, kids that came from situations that are often only read about. The work was arduous for her and her co-workers, but upon her return home to Delaware she decided to open her own social service agency and once again put her dreams on hold to take care of her Aunt that helped to raise her and her brother until she died.

The process of caring for her Aunt lasted 24/7 for a period of five years. She took care of her dying Aunt selflessly and with grace despite the fact that her 20’s were passing her by. She would sometimes say that you do something just because you know it’s the right thing to do. In addition to her role as a family caregiver, she supported every charity she found worthy and networked with and for her friends doing the same. She is very vocal and active for women and children’s rights and enlists others to do the same. Every year she has several events going on.

Starting in January 2002, Murray will be leaving to travel around the United States and volunteer at 12 different programs in 12 different states with a 6-month concentration on children. She will be spending 30-45 days at each program depending upon how she calendars out her year. She will be going to Atlanta to work in a hospital with premies, New Orleans to work at an assisted living community for the elderly, Santa Fe to work at a food bank, San Diego to work on the streets with homeless teens, a crisis hospice in Spokane, working with people with HIV/AIDS in Anchorage, teen home in Helena for moms and their babies, working and living on an Indian Reservation in South Dakota, a therapeutic riding center for the disabled in Indiana, an orphanage in Maryland and an umbrella organization in New York City. She will also be making a documentary of the process.

She is currently in the process of raising money to do all of this work and travel. Despite the fact that she has never done this before, she calls and writes everyone and their mother for whatever she needs for this project. Her efforts at outreach are relentless. She says that the spirit of her project is the stories out there; she wants to give them a voice with an emphasis on volunteerism. She was selected by Working Woman magazine as working woman of the month for July/August 2001. Murray is making the most of the “second chance” at life she was given as a child and using her time to help others in any way she can.

OLATHE NOON & SANTA FE TRAIL ROTARY CLUBS

The Olathe Rotary Club established a goal to be a part of the Rotarian’s International Reading initiative in 1998. They did so by implementing the Rotary Reading Program for Olathe elementary students. Their desire was to assist in improving student reading and listening skills.

More than 50 Rotarians committed themselves to read to children in Olathe District Schools once a month. Through this program at least one, and sometimes more than one, reader was assigned to each of Olathe’s 26 elementary schools. They were assigned to a grade level, which might consist of one class or several classes of students. They arrive for 20-30 minute reading sessions and interacted with students through questions and answers about the story at the end of the activity.

During 1999, the club split into a morning and noon club, but the commitment continued. Olathe Seniors Serving Schools coordinators schedule Rotarians and track their volunteer hours. In 2000, a new elementary school was added, and now Rotarians, who continue to read to the elementary students, cover 27 schools. This is the third year for the Rotary Readers and each year, they extend the commitment to continue this program.

Rotarians not only read to students, they also give of themselves through sharing of personal information, dressing up for the occasions to emphasize a book, and just interacting with children. Occasionally, special treats are provided as an added incentive for the children. The reading provides a connection with the community through outside human resources, and the volunteers are role models the children look forward to seeing. These volunteers range from corporate professionals, State Senators, State Representatives, and other community members. Though their daily duties differ, they share a common bond of being part of the educational process for the children in the community.

The Rotarians monitor reader attendance and their service to the students. Currently, 50 members of Olathe’s Rotary Clubs provide over 450 hours of reading time to more than 2,600 elementary students annually. The Olathe Noon and Santa Fe Trail Rotary clubs provide a measure of excellence in the Olathe Community that motivates the children to succeed.

MORTON PLANT HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

Camp Living Springs is a one-of-a-kind community outreach program that provides adult cancer survivors a totally free, fun-filled weekend. Their mission is to promote camaraderie, relaxation, and shared experiences while nurturing the spirit of those touched by cancer. The Camp is totally funded by the Morton Plant Hospital Auxiliary. The staff is also made up of Auxiliary volunteers, nurses, counselors, and massage therapists who donate all of their time.

Cancer camps for children are common; however, there is very little available for adult survivors outside of support groups. Though adults have the same needs to escape from the constant thoughts about their disease also. Camp Living Springs is one of two adult camps in Florida. The idea originated with a support group who wanted to do something innovative for the adults not related to their disease. The first year’s pilot was funded with granted monies from the Morton Plant Mease Foundation, and it was a huge success. The Morton Plant Auxiliary was then approached as a permanent sponsor to organize, fund, and staff future camps.

The 800 plus members of the Morton Plant Auxiliary accepted the challenge and have now successfully planned two camping experiences. The camp is help at a 100-acre retreat facility surrounded by a lake. The participants are housed in cabins and dorms during their stay. Before the campers arrive, committees meet regularly for seven months to plan a variety of activities. The campers are then able to participate in caricatures, themed dances, massages, line dancing lessons, arts and crafts, nature walks, and other events. For those who want to enjoy the atmosphere and tranquility, there are numerous rocking chairs on the large porch overlooking the lake. This camp concept is presented on local, state, and national levels; and the Morton Plant Auxiliary hopes to be and inspiration and pilot for organization across the nation.

Camp Living Springs’ achievements are best explained through comments from campers and their volunteer buddies. Both believe the experience is unique and very hard to put into works. They believe it gives you a chance to just “live” and not worry about being knows as a bone cancer patient, lung cancer patient, etc. The camp gives people who are living with cancer a chance to take a break from their disease. They are able to fellowship with others who have the same concerns and challenges. Many are able to share experiences, encourage each other, and just meet new friends. The Camp has been quite a success. During the first year, there were 21 campers. The Camp grew to 49 by the second year, and they had 60 campers last year.

Tim McMahon, Director of Oncology Services at Morton Plant Mease Health Care applauds Camp Living Springs. He believes it gives cancer patients a place to just be themselves,” they can let their hair down and remove their wigs.” He feels the Camp gives them the courage to embrace their survivorship as opposed to being overcome with fear.

MARY MOSS

Lafayette, Louisiana is the home to the Azalea Park neighborhood, a local housing project with a less than stellar reputation. Mary Moss is an educator to the children who call Azalea Park home. She works daily with the children who call this area where violence and drugs their playground. She is a veteran principal that turns the sidewalks of Azalea Park into her classroom as she teaches reading, writing, and a lesson in compassion.

Moss was formerly the Principal at L. Leo Judice Elementary, but has now been assigned to Alice Boucher Elementary in Lafayette. She noticed that the children who came from Azalea Park seemed to have a learning disadvantage at the inception of the school year because their study skills had not been reinforced over the summer. So, she began her tour of duty and started to travel to the neighborhood and tutor the children herself.

During the summer of 1999, Moss spent five hours a day, five days a week for seven weeks seeking out children to tutor. Initially, her greatest challenge was skepticism and distrust. Many could not accept her initially and would only look out at her through closed curtains. The community was not sure what she wanted from them and only assumed that was the case. They were not used to having anyone coming to them, seeking them out to care for them. She did not give up; but she stayed dedicated to her cause. Gradually the community realized she was there to help the children. The doors began to open, and children began to receive the specialized attention they deserved.

Her efforts did not go unnoticed. The children returned to school in the fall and were earning better grades. Because of the definite success of the summer tutoring, she continued her program. She began to go to the area every afternoon after school to continue tutoring. She also spent the summer of 2000 just as she did in 1999, tutoring the children.

Moss is excited about the change. She sees children who used to fail now earning honor roll grades in many or most of their classes. In addition to that, one of the greatest breakthroughs was with the parents. It seemed that they were previously not taking an active role in their child’s life, their education in particular. There is a definite difference in the way they discipline and work with their children at home.

During her 30 years as an educator, Moss has learned quite a bit. She initially believed many children were mistreated or not being cared for because their parents or guardians did not care. She learned, though, that sometimes people need to be taught to care. Some adults have never received unconditional love. She knows you can get people to care by reaching out and caring for them without judging them, always accepting them for who and what they are.

Moss hopes her work will not just break the cycle of violence and despair some children face but will build a new future. She knows a new circle needs to be started; the children need a new beginning filled with positive aspects to channel their drive and help them set goals. So she is now teaching other how to tutor and mentor and the benefits of doing the same.

MARITZA GONZALEZ

Maritza Gonzalez is the Executive Director of Ministerio Esperanza de Vida, Inc. (MEDV, Inc). She founded MEDV in 1995 to help the underserved Latino population. She has a heart for those suffering with HIV/AIDS and has served them tirelessly for five years before founding the agency. It all started with the adoption of a 5-week-old child infected with HIV. Though doctors did not believe she would live past her first year, Gonzalez did not give up on faith. Today Shanitza, her daughter, is 13 years old and healthy. Shanitza’s testimony was the reason for Gonzalez started MEDV, Inc. — the Spanish name to a ministry that means “Hope of Life Ministry.”

Since Gonzalez started this ministry she has sheltered more than 60 infected individuals in her own home. Although she does not receive funding from the government or anyone for housing, short-term sehlter, detoxification and rehabilitation, she continues to financially, spiritually, morally and emotionally support anyone that has been infected or affected by this crippling disease. She believes these individuals need compassion, love, respect and dignity just as everyone else, but they especially need support in their time of emotional crisis. Gonzalez also educates the Hispanic/Latino community in her area. Her mission is education, outreach, counseling, and to test the targeted population.

She is concerned about the infected people because of the lifestyle she used to have. She used to be a drug addict, alcoholic and a prostitute. Today, she is a Pastor and the Executive Direcotr of a Hispanic outreach agency. She has been clean, sober and happily married for the past 16 years. Her past experiences and lifestyle gives her a valuable tool to reach the high-risk community and allows her to break the linguistic and cultural barriers within the Hispanic population.

Gonzalez belongs to the Community Planning Partnership sponsored by the Florida Dept. of Health. Also, she is a member of the Community Planning Council of Orlando, Florida. Gonzalez has been the guest speaker in churches, organizations, associations and youth groups to present discussions and counseling to Latinos that are possibly involved in high-risk behaviors. She also participates in health fairs, festivals, conferences and networks with other agencies to provide more efficient services. She has participated in Strictly Positive, Feria de Salud, HIV Testing Day, and the Youth Summit. She has also spoken at YMCA conferences where they emphasize abstinence to the youth in order to achieve their goals and dreams. She has shared her testimony with them to teach the importance of preventing the spread of this deadly virus.

Gonzalez works hands-on with those affected with HIV/AIDS. She also speaks with as many people as she can to educate the community on prevention and care. She promotes abstinence among the youth and encourages them to get involved in their community so they can decrease the risk involved in promiscuous behavior.

MATT KELLEY

This past March, the United States learned that almost seven million Americans identified themselves as multiracial on their Census 2000 forms. Matt Kelley has been living as “multicultural” all of his life. Growing up in two small towns in Washington State, he had to become accustomed to curious stares. People sometimes made comments, and others just wondered. Matt is the son of a Korean mother and a Norwegian/Irish father, and as a child, he was confused and isolated from other children because of his heritage.

Today, people may not be as judgmental; however, this was the first time in the Census’ 210-year history that they gave the option of being multicultural available. We see prominent figures in sports, politics, and other professions that are products of mixed heritage families. Nearly 1 in 6 babies born in cities like Seattle, WA, Sacramento, CA and San Antonio, TX are multiracial. Though the numbers are growing, there is still a definite lack of awareness about multiracial people. It is also astonishing to know that biracial children are the fastest growing population entering the juvenile justice system.

As a 19-year-old freshmen in college, Matt decided to do something to help this undeserved segment. He almost single-handedly created MAVIN, which is the only magazine specifically focused on celebrating multiracial youth. Mavin is taken from the Hebrew-Aramaic word meaning “one who understands.” Matt is trying to make people acknowledge that everything is not just black or white, there are people who exist in the middle; and once people realize that, it is not so easy to pit one group against the other.

In 2000, he created the Mavin Foundation. This is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness of multiracial young Americans. Since starting MAVIN, Matt has never been paid for the work he does. He has volunteered approximately 300 hours monthly to promote multiracial youth. Matt still has bills, and the magazine still has financial needs; so he has worked as a busboy, pre-school teacher, and an apartment manager.

In addition, Matt coordinated the 3rd Pan Collegiate Conference on the Mixed Race Experience in 1999. Hundreds of students came together to celebrate their diversity. Matt also volunteered to teach a full-credit course at Wesleyan University entitled, Racially Mixed in the U.S.A. Since MAVIN debuted, hundreds of newspaper, magazine, and television features spanning five continents have featured stories about Matt and MAVIN. Because of his innovative approach to race issues, Matt was named one of Seattle magazine’s “9 to Watch In The Next Century.” Teen People magazine named him a local hero, and Seattle’s TRIBES Project designated him as a “Race Scholar.” Matt has worked tirelessly to increase mainstream society’s awareness of multiracial young Americans.

In addition to MAVIN, Matt has donated thousands of volunteer hours to Child haven, a nonprofit Seattle organization that serves children who have had to suffer with abuse and neglect. Currently, he also serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Multiethnic Americans and the Central District Forum of Arts and ideas, a Seattle-based nonprofit celebrating African American culture.

SUSYBELLE GOSSLEE

Susybelle Gosslee is committed to children, her own and many of them she has never met. She spends quality time with her family and supports her children while teaching them through her life that we all should give back to our community.

Gosslee began her volunteer career with the Girls Scouts. She has served as a Leader and Den Mother with this organization. She also has taught Sunday school and been a soccer coach. Since she was so fulfilled with service, she continued to look for opportunities in particular, those that touch women and young girls. Her volunteer commitments then expanded to include committee assignments for Women of Saint Michael and All Angels, the Junior League of Dallas, Letot Status Offender Center, and Girls’ Adventure Trails.

Through her involvement with the Junior League of Dallas, Letot, and Girls’ Adventure Trails, Gosslee began to envision a place for troubled girls. She continued to do work with non-profits and research the organizational structures, and in 1985, Gosslee founded Our Friend’s Place. She did all the initial work associated with founding a no-profit agency. She designed the program, raised the funds, and renovated the facilities. Our Friend’s Place provides warm, nurturing, homelike havens of safety and support for girls who have been abused, neglected, abandoned or have behavioral difficulties.

Our Friend’s Place offers a therapeutic group home for girls ages 10 to 17 and a transitional living center for young women ages 18 to 24. The women have a home where they can begin to heal and learn skills for a successful future. The participants in the program receive individual, group, and if possible, family therapy. Life skills, including appropriate social behaviors, job skills, and home keeping, are central to the philosophy of Our Friend’s Place. The goal is to give the girls and young women the opportunity to break out of the negative generational cycles of abuse and poverty through education and therapy.

Gosslee believes you should measure the effectiveness of your program. Our Friend’s Place is a success. In 1999, the results of the group home show that for the girls who were in the program for three months or longer, 100% did not become pregnant, improved their physical and dental health, passed to the next grade level in school, decreased or withdrew from active gang involvement, and decreased or refrained from alcohol or drug use. In addition to that, 93% improved their age-appropriate life skills. For that same year, the outcome results from the transitional living center were positive also. For the young women who had been in the program for three months or longer, 100% did not become pregnant and increased their job-related skills, 83% were employed, 83% successfully completed or are still in the program, and 70% were enrolled in educational or vocational courses.

Susybelle Gosslee also has served the Mental Health Association, Episcopal Church Women, Women’s Service League, and the Dallas Women’s Coalition, to name a few. Her tireless efforts resulted in her being honored with the Savvy Award in 2000, the Prism Award in 1994, the Maura Award in 1992, and was a Linz Award nominee in 1991. She was a representative at the United Nations Non Governmental Organizational Forum on Women in Beijing in 1995.

READ/ORANGE COUNTY

READ/Orange County is the literacy service of the Orange County Public Library. They provide no-cost tutoring in basic reading, writing, and English skills using professionally trained volunteer tutors. The volunteers assist learners in improving their literacy skills. Lessons are individualized, confidential, and highly goal oriented. The learning process is structured around the learner’s goals, using materials that relate to those goals.

READ boasts of several achievements since its inception. Many of the learners in the program have voted for the first time, obtained a new job, received a promotion, or have finally been able to read to their children. The learners have also assisted their children with homework, enrolled in a higher level of education, obtained a driver’s license, written their own checks, and balanced their own checkbooks.

Since its founding, in 1991, 50 Basic Tutor Training Workshops have been conducted. There have been more than 800 tutors certified and 1500 learners assessed. Volunteers have contributed more than 80,000 hours of tutoring plus and additional 82,000 hours in talent and support services. Nationwide estimated indicate that one in five adults is functionally illiterate. This equates to approximately 500,000 people in Orange County. Since illiteracy costs businesses in the United States about $245 billion per year, READ’s programs address an imperative unmet educational need.

READ is innovative because of the variety of programs offered. Because tutoring is offered at convenient locations and times, obstacles to learning are reduced. The emphasis on literacy as a family issue assures a long-term impact for the community. READ is the only low-level basic skills program currently being offered to jail inmates. The county librarian firmly supports READ and includes funding for the program in the annual budget. The 28 branches of the Orange County Public Library are knowledgeable about READ, display READ information, and provide tutoring space.

READ’s core program works with adults who have limited literacy skills. By increasing literacy skills, learners become more employable, more informed community members and voters, and more capable of assisting their children in gaining literacy skills. READ’s Family for Literacy (FFL) component addresses the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy. Children whose parents are functionally illiterate are twice as likely as their peers to be functionally illiterate, creating an on-going cycle. FFL works to break this cycle by working in combination with parents and their children. FFL assists parents in improving their reading skills and instills a sense of the value of reading. Direct work with the children builds reading readiness and assures they have the pre-literacy skills for success in school.

READ, in conjunction with the Sheriff-Coroner Department, provides tutors to inmates in the five Orange County jails via the Working for Inmate Literacy Now program. This program demonstrates the practical benefits of improving literacy skills and encourages continuance of the inmate’s education upon transfer or release from jail, thus reducing recidivism while increasing employability and safety.

LAUREL CURTIS

Laurel Curtis has a desire to make the lives of young people in her community better. About 15 years ago, she began to work for Youth Corrections. While working there, she spread her positive attitude and optimistic outlook on life. She accepted the young people as they were and always gave an ear to listen, which is a simple thing many of them need.

When she became a mother, Curtis decided to stay at home; however, her love for youth increased. As a mother of five, she still made it a priority to give of herself and her time to others. She stays very involved in the community and uses her skills to help others.

Curtis is very adept at budgeting and she uses that skill to help others. She takes the time to share with others ways to be resourceful. She teaches them to look at their total household expenses to see if there is anything they can cut back on. In addition to that, she plans dinner with menus; and that cuts costs. Curtis has taught various classes in the community that teaches others things she has learned, so they can benefit also. Though she was no longer an employee of Youth Corrections, she still worked there in a volunteer capacity. Youth Corrections has been able to call her for special events, and she has helped in any way she could.

A couple of years ago, Curtis began a program called “America’s Promise For Freedom.” This program would help the young women to become productive citizens. It was a result of Colin Powell’s speech and America’s Promise Program. She wanted to work within the scope of that program and help in her area. She contacted JC Penney and Ron Rhoades to get assistance. These two entities offered to help the young ladies with job interview skills as well as training. The ladies were allowed to pick an outfit to use on the interview. The clothing must be appropriate and approved by the JC Penney’s staff. Ron Rhoades donates the outfits to the youth to help them find employment. Many of the women apply at JC Penney.

In addition to the training and clothing, Curtis also contacted a photographer. They donate makeovers and free sittings for the class. When the young women are taught how to look professional and saw themselves in photos that way, it definitely increased their self-esteem. The women were also taught self-defense classes, as many of the women in the program are victims of abuse.

Curtis’ efforts do not stop there. The also teaches classes on how to cook nutritional meals as well as baking bread. She also contacted a theater in town to help her program. The theater allows the young women to come watch a play, and many of them have never had this experience; so that opened a door to another part of life for them. The women have also been able to attend gyms to learn how to work out and take care of their bodies, receive training about food disorders, and they experience volunteer service. The young women had projects in the community that helped them give back to those around them. The visit assisted living centers an elderly members of the community and give them companionship and pleasant company.