Award Winning
What Does Sustainability Mean to You?
Illustration by Lisa Dodell
Saving Our Planet
Spring 2015
Energy Sources Global Warming
This Edition is Sponsored by:
I was often anish-speaking house, Sp a in up ing ow gr As a child the power ung age I understood yo a m Fro or. lat ns tra the family as through s to be able to share ide wa it nt rta po im w ho d of language an even more so when all through school and me for e tru s wa is Th t programs words and art. gazine and enrichmen ma s es Pr Xds Ki th wi iding kids en amazing I started working. Prov se self-esteem, have be rea inc d an g din rea n, ressio a girl. that encourage self-exp ve dreamed about as ha ly on uld co I t tha es nc and rewarding experie to retire. X-Press, I have decided ds Ki of er sh bli Pu d an Founder hands and Now, after 14 years as g Kids X-Press in good vin lea am I t bu , me ition for to meet to the This will be the last ed usual. You will all get as ed sh bli pu be to e nu the magazine will conti ed! the next edition. Stay tun in tor rec Di ve uti ec Ex new d readers young writers, artists an ny ma so th wi rk wo to lege ide in all we It has been a great privi you and I take great pr m fro ch mu so ed rn lea , special editions and over the years. I have r hands-on workshops ou h ug ro Th er. eth tog ics, from have accomplished ess many important top dr ad to le ab en be ve ns, we ha social issues multi-lingual publicatio diabetes and autism, to ile en juv to , cy ra lite ence pecially enjoyed the environment and sci reer choices. I have es ca d an ity es ob od ho ild dent today as writers, like youth violence, ch ibutors, who feel confi ntr co st rlie ea r ou of ir abilities hearing from some a positive outlook on the in ga m the d lpe he s ds X-Pres and appreciate how Ki e. to succeed in the futur success make Kids X-Press the d lpe he ve ha o wh le all the peop r long time I cannot begin to thank ledge with gratitude ou ow kn ac to nt me mo a will take Our partners and it has been, although I d daughter Alexandra. an y nn Vi d an sb hu , my you have all shared graphic designer Gaby mbers and advisors – me d ar bo rs, tee lun vo supporters, interns and literacy! a passion for children’s ice. Along the ice and to value that vo vo a s kid e giv to en s be rry – always. Our mission has alway . That is a gift I will ca ice vo a me en giv o als way, Kids X-Press has
Hello e: everyon
Dear Nivia, staff, Ki all the ds X-Press Piggy tle reporters and this lit will miss you. and e Hav a good time r! te ap enjoy the next ch
Nivia Viera Founder & Publisher
Table of Contents KXP Regulars Subscription Piggy’s Mailbox Pick a Peck of Pickled Poetry The Art Page
Specials Cont. 2 3 26 27
Specials Globlal Warming What Does Sustainablility Mean To You? Energy Sources KXP Storytellers Sunlight Rocking the Boat Saving Our Planet KXP-On-Call Interview with Kelli M. Dowell Assistant General Counsel Bilingual Version KXP-On-Call Entrevista con la Asesora General Kelli M. Dowell
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KXP-On-Call Q&A w/Joanne Fernandez Bilingual Version KXP-On-Call Preguntas y Respuestas a Joanne Fernandez Letters to the Environment Recipes to Save the Planet A Little Bit of Everything KXP-On-Call “Bad Hair Does Not Exist!”
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Global Warming
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Rocking the Boat
18
Letters to the Environment
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KXP-On-Call “Bad Hair Does Not Exist!”
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18 21 22 24
Puzzles & More 10 12 14
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Spring into Action with 7 Puzzles, Games and More Submission Page & 13 Permission Slip Puzzle Solutions 28 Thank You To Our Sponsors Welcome to the Spring Edition of Kids X-Press ENJOY!!!
Kids X-Press Magazine is published quarterly by Kids X-Press, Inc. Kids X-Press, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote literacy. We encourage children of all abilities, and from all ethnic, social and economic backgrounds, to express themselves, and we provide them a forum through which they can communicate to the public the world from a kid’s-eye-view.
Vol 13 Issue 2 - April 2015 Founder & Publisher: Nivia Viera Design & Production: Gabriela Madrid Program and Production Manager: Lauren Stevens Marketing Consultant: Ellen Morgenstern Kids X-Press Interns: Alexandra Imbrosci, Elis Madrid, Katherine Cox, Michael Luckett, Pablo Villacis Merizalde © 2015 Kids X-Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. Kids X-Press and the Kids X-Press logo are trademarks of Kids X-Press, Inc. To contact us, write to: Kids X-Press, Inc. at PO Box 374, White Plains, NY 10603, or call (914) 261-0815 or email niviaviera@verizon.net / kxp@kidsxpress.net www.kidsxpress.net In 2012 Kids X-Press received a Pyramid Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and recognition for excellence in science education by the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates, as a component of the overall BASF Science Education program.
Kids X-Press, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that is not affiliated or otherwise associated with any school district, government, religious or political association. Any comments, views and/or opinions expressed in any article herein are solely those of the authors and illustrators and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Kids X-Press, Inc., its sponsors or affiliates. Kids X-Press, Inc. makes every effort to ensure all the works published in Kids X-Press Magazine are original. Kids X-Press, Inc.does not take responsibility for any misrepresentation of authorship.
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possibly faced, Dear Piggy, tion, kids everywhere have ua sit ul df ea dr a on d se bullied, don’t know I wrote an article ba s, who have faced being kid ny ma t tha ed tic no I could publish my known as bullying. I would appreciate if you re, fo ere Th . lem ob pr s ing and spread the how to resolve thi w how to overcome bully kno n ca s kid so e, zin ga article in the ma ank you. word, to stop bullying. Th Hi, Lauren, Sincerely, I am pleased with your writing to raise awareness Lauren Sulaiman on bullying. It is such a big issue in schools Brooklyn, NY nowadays. I am sure your article will inform a lot of students. You can find your article on page 23.
Dear Piggy, Hi my name is Raseim Smith. This is the first time writing you. I am a huge fan of art. I always wanted my artwork published somewhere and that is when I heard about your magazine Kids X-Press. P.S. May you please publish my picture? Thanks Piggy. Raseim Smith Brooklyn, NY Hi, Raseim,
sion but it This may be your first submis We are excited doesn’t have to be your last. can check out that you chose to submit, you your drawing on page 28.
Dear Piggy, Hi I am Melany Aguilar, how do you do? I drew pictures and wrote a story for you. I hope you enjoy it, also can you please put my drawings in the arts page? I really appreciate it. Melany Aguilar Brooklyn, NY Hello Melany, ter reading your I am wonderful af eative and seeing your cr magnificent story page 9. find your work on artwork. You can tive as you can! Keep being as crea
ns, t two years. I live in Quee ou ab r fo s, es Pr Xy, gg ds Pi Ki Dear participated in anks! my story? If you do, Th probably know me. I have e u lud yo d inc an e r as au ple At u is yo me an C na My both in college. my story. time. I have two brothers, t ea gr a g vin the far rockaway part in ha of am le I op . pe NY ind rem to t jus picture? The picture is Can you also include the ason! Press magazines every se Hi, I love reading the Kids XOf course I remember you Ataur! Sincerely, Always enjoy getting your submissions! As soon Ataur Muhith as I finished reading your story I knew it had to Queens, NY. be published! You can find your story on page 22 Keep on writing!
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What’s up with Global Warming? By Kids X-Press Reporter Kaynat Boota
Who knew that heat could be strong enough to evaporate a whole river? Did you notice that 90° is a normal temperature? I mean, think about it!
Do you want to save our planet? Thought so. So come on and just turn off the light. I’m news reporter Kaynat Boota. Back to you Bob.
Illustration by Kaynat Boota
Hello people around the world! I’m news reporter Kaynat Boota reporting to you live on the scene. I’m coming to you with a hot story. Like, literally hot! I mean, what’s going on with this global warming?
Just guess how all of this is happening? This is all because of things like gas. I mean, can you believe that daily things like gas are causing this big mess? Just imagine if all the bodies of water were just gone. There would just be holes in the ground. What would happen to the animals? The fish would die. All of the sea animals would die. Then what would we do? So people, what do you say? Do you want to prevent all of this? Well guess what? You can prevent this by doing simple things in the house, like turning off the water faucet when you brush your teeth. You can also turn off the lights in the house during the day and use the sun as light. See! You can save our Earth by just turning off lights and faucets.
Global Climate Change
Illustration by Giovani Sanchez
By Kids X-Press Reporter Tyrell Reese
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In dry climates, hot air can cause a drought because it evaporates the water. For example, polar bears live in cold weather. If the temperate goes up, most parts of the ice that the polar bears live on will melt. Dry weather is hard for farmers to grow crops because they can’t get enough water. The animals on the farm will die from dehydration. That is climate change.
Illustration by Arianna Contreras
By Kids X-Press Reporter Pascual Salcedo Global warming is the Earth getting too hot. The hotness is in the atmosphere. By Kids X-Press Reporter Christopher Rivera The global warming is happening because we don’t take care of the Earth. By Kids X-Press Reporter Jhostin Guzman One cause of global warming is that people are throwing garbage on our planet. By Kids X-Press Reporter Dayana Espinoza The sea level is rising and some animals have to move to another habitat therefore some plants and animals may go extinct. By Kids X-Press Reporter Arianna Contreras Global warming is caused by us people here on Earth, we need to save our planet. By Kids X-Press Reporter Anthenie DelaCruz Hey, did you know our planet is getting hotter because of global warming. In the Arctic the ice is melting and waters are rising, animals are losing their homes. We need to stop throwing garbage into the ocean, lakes and rivers to save our planet. By Kids X-Press Luisabel Lora Global warming refers to the increase of the Earth’s average temperature due to increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Scientists agree burning of fossil fuels like oil and coal causes greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. One way to reduce greenhouse gases is to reduce deforestation.
Ice Cube
By Kids X-Press Reporter John Gordineer Global warming can cause the ice to melt, like in Antarctica and the North Pole. This will cause floods. If you have a cup with a little bit of water and you pour it into a cup of ice, the ice will melt and create more water. Thats what is happening in many places in the world. When the ice melts, some of the animals will die. How can you help? Instead of driving a car and wasting gas you could get on the train. You can also walk or carpool with a friend. That is how we can save our world.
Global Warming By Kids X-Press Reporter Azure Santiago
I am going to write about global warming. Global warming affects animals, different areas and us. Global warming causes heat waves. If heat waves happen in Antarctica the ice will start to melt and the polar bears, penguins, sea lions and other animals will lose their homes and land. Some things that people can do to prevent global warming are; ride bikes or skateboards to work, instead of driving cars, so they won’t pollute the air.
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Sustainability means to take care of the Earth. It also means to understand the interconnections among the economy, society, and the environment. We can help the world by raising awareness. By Sharon Martinez . Here are luting or damaging the Earth pol t no by rth Ea the e sav lp We can he a bike instead of save the Earth. We can ride can we w ho of les mp exa e sting water. som to wash the car instead of wa n rai the use can we d an s driving car By Jonah Estrada
Sustainability means to help out the Earth. We have to help by doing ma things. For example, we ny can use less electricity, start using reusable shop bags, using bicy cles to ping travel, and wagons to mo ve materials. By Justin Gutierrez We, as humans, destroy the planet we are living on. We don’t recycle everyday, we litter, and we waste a lot of water and light. We turn on electronics when we don’t even use them. That is how we are not living sustainably! By Jacqueline Martinez
lution. le, some factories are creating pol mp exa For ly. nab tai sus ing liv We are not nability es giving us bad air. To me, sustai Their smoke stacks let out bad gas for a better life. means to stop creating pollution By Nestor Rivas No, we are not living sustainably. For exam destroying millions ple, each year we are of trees. Also, human s are destroying the air pollution, and us earth by driving cars ing too much water, , which produces coal, and minerals. W e are using and wast ing too much energy ! By Brayan Giron We can help the Earth by recycling everyday and not littering. We can use less water when we take a shower and brush our teeth. We can also help by cleaning up after ourselves. By Marelin Cervantes how we humans ngs. For example, it means thi of lot a s an me ity bil ina a lot Susta rting the planet is by using hu are we y wa e On y. wa d and a bad . affect the Earth in both a goo help is by using solar panels to y wa e On . ing rm wa bal g glo By Iverson Gonzalez of coal and oil. This is causin
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Together we can make the Earth a better place. By Jose Salazar
SPRING INTO ACTION WITH puzzles, games and more Conservation Word Search E
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OHHH Yeh Math!!!! Nice challenge!!!
Try to fill in the missing numbers.Use the numbers 1 through 9 to complete the equations.Each number is only used once. Each row is a math equation. Work from left to right. Each column is a math equation. Work from top to bottom.
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Solar Energy By Kids X-Press Reporter Yolanssie Cardona Energy comes in many forms. Heat, light and sound are three types of energy.
By Kids X-Press Reporter Fatmata Barrie Water is a natural resource. Water is everywhere. Earth is the only planet with water. It is covered with water. The fresh water we use comes from ground water. When the water is heated it slowly turns into gas. When it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit it begins to boil. Rainwater is called freshwater. Some of the water we use comes from reservoirs.
The sun is the major source of all heat of all living things. Heat from the sun warms up water, land and air. Fire is also solar energy.
Illustration by Yolanssie Cardona
Through the use of technology, we are able to harness the energy from the sun and convert it to electricity.
Water By Kids X-Press Reporter Dinara C. Gutierrez Water is a natural resource that helps all living things.
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Illustration by Dinara C. Gutierrez
Energy from the sun is called solar energy. The sun is an important resource, as it helps sustain life. A solar panel is a group of solar cells connected to form a large flat surface. Without the sun our planet wouldn’t have life.
Energy By Kids X-Press Reporter Arleth Gomez Energy is the ability to move, change or work stuff. The forms of energy are wind energy, heat energy, muscular energy, food chemical, water hydro, and gasoline chemical, sun solar, light energy. A fossil fuel is a non-renewable energy. A renewable energy is a windmill. The definition of renewable is a form of energy that can be replaced easily and the definition of non-renewable is that it waste fast and it takes a long time to recreate.
Illustration by Arleth Gomez
Energy Sources
KXP Storytellers Sunlight By Kids X-Press Reporter Melany Aguilar
Illustration by Melany Aguilar
Once upon a time there was one princess who ruled the sun and a queen who ruled the moon.The princess’s name was Ivy and the queen’s name was Luna. Princess Ivy was nice to the people that lived on the sun, the queen however was evil and fought with her citizens and made them work hard every day. When Luna heard there was a princess who lived on the sun she wanted to take over the sun and rule it so she can have more power. She planned to train her citizens to fight the people of the sun. One citizen heard about the plan and was nice enough to tell Princess Ivy. “Princess Ivy! I have news to tell you!” said the citizen. “What is the news?” asked Ivy. “The queen is going to attack you and take over the sun!” said the citizen. “Thank you for telling me I really appreciate it,” said Ivy. The citizen went back to the moon. Some of the people who live on the sun overheared it. “Are we to fight back Princess Ivy?” said the people. “No we are not going to fight back we are just going to trick her” said Ivy, “Very clever” said people of the sun. The queen was going to the sun but Ivy used her magic to send her to live in a star for a thousand years.
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Rocking the Boat empowers young people to develop the self-confidence to set ambitious goals and gain the skills necessary to achieve them. Students work together to build wooden boats, learn to row and sail, and restore local urban waterways, revitalizing their community while creating better lives for themselves.
By Alissa Hickson Before the program, I was always fascinated with the environment. I loved the deep depths of the ocean, I loved the brilliant blue sky, and I was in love with the fresh air and vast areas of natural land. I only had love for nature, but that is about as far as my fascination would extend. I would believe that nature was permanent and nothing that the human population could do would affect that. I believed nature was, is, and will forever be beautiful, healthy and everlasting. As I grew older my teachers and other adults would explain how important it is to "reduce, reuse, recycle", but it became a bore and a bother. My old state of mind contributed to my ignorance since I believed that was all I could possibly do. Upon joining Rocking the Boat, the staff approached the topic in a more inclusive way. Instead of focusing on all the bad things that were happening we engaged in activities that truly opened my eyes to the way things actually are. Our beautiful bodies of water were becoming polluted and our vast areas of land weren't as vast as I thought they were. Rocking the Boat provided me with the opportunity to experience firsthand all the negative impacts humans are making that contribute to our environment's bad health. For example, the pathogen monitoring project that was done in the summer of 2014 helped to open our eyes to all the dumping that is happening in the Bronx River. Oysters* help to filter the water and the seaweed* helps to reduce the nitrate levels caused by that dumping. Helping them grow makes me feel like I’m actually making a difference.
* Two of Rocking the Boat’s environmental projects involve planting oyster gardens and cultivating seaweed. 10
By Edwin LeBron As a student and participant of the environmental protection program in the Bronx, Rocking the Boat, I have become fond of the way our environment works and how ecosystems maintain stability. At Rocking the Boat, not only have I learned to appreciate the environment in which I live, I found a new family- the bonds that are shared in the program are amazing. We help each other out when in need, we stand together hands joined to help improve our environment and protect it. At Rocking the Boat we find our inner skills, whether as a boat builder, a sailor, an environmental protector, or maybe all three. I feel not only will these skills help me become a better person, but they will help me become a leader of tomorrow, and help me be able to change this world for the better. By Jonathan Graciano Rocking the Boat is a very special organization which I feel blessed to be a part of. When I first joined Rocking the Boat I was eager to row but this program gives me much more than that. I learned many things throughout my experience from being a student to being a job skills apprentice. I gained knowledge about many different birds and fish in and around the Bronx River. I used binoculars to observe birds like grey and black herons and birds we had never seen before. We went on one of the sailboats and saw bands of fish jumping out of the water and swimming around the boat. I had never seen anything like that before. The first time I saw an eel, it was awesome. Also I gained information about the river itself. We do a lot of water quality monitoring. We actually get involved and can see the results of the salinity, pH, and turbidity test. This experience is remarkable.
By Nilda Mendez Being a part of Rocking the Boat has opened my eyes to view our environment for what it really is. Our environment is an important part in our world that gives us life and maintains other organisms that we coexist with, and because of this, we must try our best to maintain a healthy environment for us to live in. We need to take care of the world and protect it, and do this by using less water, picking up trash, using organic materials, and not abusing the resources that we have. Instead, use them as we need and replenish what we've used. My first summer at Rocking the Boat we had a cage with oysters in it. We rowed deep into Soundview Park and tied it to one of the poles sticking out of the water. A couple of months later we pulled it out to see how the oysters were growing. When we took them out they had grown and there were more of them – they had reproduced! And then we used water quality tests and found that the area in which the oysters were living was cleaner because more water was being purified by the oysters. By Marta Burgos Since working at Rocking the Boat I not only care about the environment in terms of nature, but also in terms of the people around me. Rocking the Boat has taught me that it is completely possible for a group of people to greet newcomers with open and welcoming arms; it also taught me that this is the best way to make it. I learned that we are not alone in trying to clean up the rivers and that there is hope in saving the environment, no matter how bleak it seems in daily life. Rocking the Boat introduced me to other organizations that are working hard to conserve nature and it showed me all sorts of ways that "just a kid" can make an impact on the planet. We constantly monitor the water. You would think that it was something that only adults would do. But we are able to analyze every aspect of the quality of the water and gauge whether we are getting positive results. Water quality monitoring helps us know what needs to be done in order to make sure the river is healthy.
By Barbara Rivera Being at Rocking the Boat has opened me to new experiences and taught me many things. I learned not only how to build boats half-hull models, and tool boxes, the different parts of the boat, water quality testing, how a river affects the environment. I learned all of these things yet that’s not what I love most about Rocking the Boat—it’s how much of a family we are. I learned how to be more open and confident. I've learned how amazing it feels to a part of such a big/small family. The Program Assistants never give up on me and are determined to help me go past my abilities and grow stronger as a person. Every time I walk into Rocking the Boat I feel like I'm walking into my second home.
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g n i v a S Our Planet
Saving Energy Tips By Kids X-Press Reporter Gleanson Gambra
Recycling By Kids X-Press Reporter Tasmeen Baker Have you ever drank soda and it ended up in the trash can? It gets dumped into the ocean and makes the animals sick and die. But there is something you can do to change that, recycle. Recycling is really good for the environment. We can use it again instead of throwing it away. So let’s not let the world down! By Kids X-Press Reporter Zion Brisbane We need to recycle because if we don’t it will hurt the earth and there will be mountains of trash up in the sky. A plastic water bottle can be turned into something new, like a plant terrarium. Earth is our planet. By Kids X-Press Reporter Jeremiah Morales Recycling means to separate paper, glass, metal, cans and bottles. It helps our planet by making our earth clean. We need to recycle!! By Kids X-Press Reporter Tristen Valentin Recycling is to separate glass and plastic bottles from the trash to save our planet and trees.
Illustration by Denise Maximo
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You could tell others to recycle paper and bottles. By Kids X-Press Reporter Judith Rueda You can raise awareness by shutting down electronics when you don’t need it. By Kids X-Press Reporter Luz Maria Curiel To save energy we should not waste a lot of water. By Kids X-Press Reporter Katherine NaJera We can turn off lights, computers, and electronics when not in use. We can set electronics to use energy saver features and replace incandescent light. By Kids X-Press Reporter Franklin Fortuna You could also use both side of the paper when making copies. It’s your home protect it. By Kids X-Press Reporter Paola Dejesus Give a teacher a ticket when they leave the lights or smart board computer on when it is not in use.
Hey kids! Three more tips: Use renewable energy, plant more trees, and use water carefully.
ber: Remem nding e s when twork, r a l origina n blank draw o aper! white p
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KXP-On-Call Interview with Kelli M. Dowell, Assistant General Counsel By KXP-On-Call Reporter Michael Luckett On March 27, 2015 I interviewed Kelli Dowell. She explained what she does and Entergy’s mission.
Kelli M. Dowell Q: Ms. Dowell, would you please describe your position at Entergy?
A: I am an Assistant General Counsel and I focus on environmental work. I am in the legal division and my role is mostly with our nuclear fleet. As an attorney, I provide compliance leadership with the rules and regulations. Q: What do like best about your job? A: We seem to be forging new ground with unique legal arguments especially with Indian Point and some of the challenges we are facing there. I enjoy the challenges that come along with it and that we are protective of the environment. Q: What is the company’s philosophy on the environment? A: The philosophy is our mission, “To operate a world class energy business that creates sustainable value for our four stakeholders: the owners, customers, employees and the communities.” Q: Can you please give examples of how Entergy supports this philosophy? A: We have an environmental strategy and planning group, including the legal department, that insures we live by this philosophy. We have six different platforms and one of them is to reduce our environmental footprint. Entergy started that commitment over 10 years ago in what we call “environment 2020” so that by the year 2020 we have reduced our carbon emission by 20%. Q: What led you to choosing this occupation?
A: In undergraduate school, I had no idea what I wanted to be. I got a degree in political science but it might have been a statement from my mother saying “the environment is very important and it is never going away.” I liked that idea and I loved science. It’s when I went to law school that I started to specialize in environmental courses.
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Michael Luckett Q: Where does the name Entergy come from?
A: Our company started in Arkansas then expanded to Mississippi and Louisiana. In 1989 they decided to integrate various companies and they gave them the combined name Entergy. The name is based on three words “Enterprise, Energy and Synergy.” Q: Is there anything that you would like to say that we haven't asked you? A: For 17 years our company’s emergency response has been recognized by “The Edison Electric Institute Emergency Recovery Award” and is the only utility company in the United States to do so. We are nationally recognized for our diversity named as such by the “Black Enterprise” magazine and we were also named as a top corporation for women by the “Women's Business Enterprise Council.” Q: What do you do during your spare time? A: I have a 14 year old daughter who is very active in soccer. She is on a traveling team, she hopes to play college soccer and that is basically what my spare time consists of. We’re originally from Florida and go there whenever possible for some fun. Q: What is Entergy in your own words? A: Entergy is a large company that I believe does a very good job of keeping itself grounded, keeping true to the customers and at the same time realizing that it’s the dedication of its employees that are going to make the company successful. We have a strong leadership team that understands where we need to go as a company, sees the vision and allows the employees to implement that vision. I really enjoyed talking to Ms. Dowell and I want to thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to conduct this interview with me, it was a great experience and I hope I get the opportunity to do it again.
KXP-On-Call Entrevista con Kelli M. Dowell, Asesora General Por el Periodista KXP-On-Call Michael Luckett El 27 de marzo 2015 entrevisté a Kelli Dowell. Ella nos explicó que hace y cuál es la misión de Entergy.
Kelli M. Dowell P: Sra. Dowell, ¿Nos podría describir su cargo en Entergy? R: Soy Asesora General y me dedico al trabajo con el medio ambiente. Estoy en la división legal y mi papel es sobre todo con nuestra flota nuclear. Como abogada, superviso el cumplimiento de las normas y reglamentos. P: ¿Qué es lo que más le gusta de su trabajo? R: Parece que estamos forjando un nuevo camino con un exclusivo argumento jurídico, especialmente con Indian Point y los desafíos con que enfrentamos allí. Disfruto de esosdesafíos y de proteger al medio ambiente. P: ¿Cuál es la filosofía de la compañía respecto del medio ambiente? R: La filosofía de nuestra misión es "Manejar negocios de energía de primera clase que crean valores sustentables para cuatro grupos de interés: propietarios, clientes, empleados y comunidades". P: ¿Puede por favor darnos ejemplos de cómo Entergy apoya esta filosofía? R: Tenemos una estrategia ambiental y un grupo de planificación, incluyendo el departamento jurídico, que asegura vivir con esta filosofía. Tenemos seis plataformas diferentes y una de ellas es reducir nuestra huella ambiental. Entergy comenzó este compromiso hace más de 10 años en lo que llamamos "Medio Ambiente 2020", por lo que para el año 2020 deberemos reducir nuestras emisiones de carbono en un 20%. P: ¿Qué la llevó a elegir esta profesión? R: En la escuela de pregrado, no tenía ni idea de lo que quería ser. Tengo una licenciatura en ciencias políticas, pudo haber sido un legado de mi mamá diciéndome "el medio ambiente es muy importante y nunca va a desaparecer." Me gustó la idea y me encantaban la ciencias. Es cuando fuí a la escuela de leyes que empecé a especializarme en cursos ambientales.
Michael Luckett P: ¿De dónde viene el nombre de Entergy? R: Nuestra compañía comenzó en Arkansas, luego se extendió a Mississippi y Louisiana. En 1989 decidieron integrar varias empresas y les dieron el nombre combinado Entergy. El nombre se basa en tres palabras "Empresa, Energía y Sinergia." P: ¿Hay algo que le gustaría decir que no le hemos preguntado? R: Durante 17 años la respuesta de emergencia de nuestra compañía ha sido reconocida con el premio “The Edison Electric Institute Emergency Recovery Award” y es la única empresa en los Estados Unidos que hace esto. Somos reconocidos a nivel nacional por nuestra diversidad, nombrado como tal por la revista "Black Enterprise” y también fuimos nombrados como una corporación superior para mujeres por “Women's Business Enterprise Council.” P: ¿Qué hace en tu tiempo libre? R: Tengo una hija de 14 años que es muy activa en el soccer. Ella está en un equipo itinerante, espera jugar soccer en la universidad y es básicamente en lo que ocupo mi tiempo libre. Somos de Florida y vamos allí siempre que sea posible para la divertirnos. Q: ¿Qué es Entergy en sus propias palabras? R: Entergy es una gran empresa y creo que hace un muy buen trabajo manteniéndose conectado a tierra, siendo fiel a sus clientes y al mismo tiempo dándose cuenta que la dedicación a sus empleados hará de la empresa un éxito. Tenemos un fuerte equipo de liderazgo que entiende dónde tenemos que ir como empresa, tiene la visión y permite a los empleados poner en práctica esa visión. Me gustó mucho hablar con la Sra. Dowell y deseo darle las gracias por tomarse el tiempo de su ocupada agenda para realizar esta entrevista conmigo, fue una gran experiencia y espero tener la oportunidad de volverlo a hacer.
Translated by Gabriela Madrid
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KXP-On-Call Q&A with Joanne Fernandez By KXP-On-Call Reporter Pablo Villacis Merizalde
Joanne Fernandez
Joanne Fernandez is a very important part of Entergy and shares its environmental beliefs. This interview includes her points of view on climate change and sustainability.
Q: Describe your work. What do you like the most about it? A: In New York State, I handle government affairs for Entergy, which owns various energy facilities. I represent the company before elected officials, policy makers, regulators and the community on proposed legislation and or regulation for the entities. What I like the most about my job, is never the same day to day! The subject is complex, with a lot taking place at once but it’s also dynamic and you get to learn about so many different issues and be a part of shaping the eventual outcome. Q: What is Entergy’s view of climate change in New York? A: We are strong believers in the use of nuclear power because there are virtually no greenhouse gas emissions. This is extremely important as greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming. We believe nuclear power is part of the solution to address climate change and therefore are vigorously working to keep the Indian Point Energy operational. Nuclear power is also a price stable and year-round source of energy for our community. Q: What has Entergy done to support its goal? A: We have invested millions of dollars to keep the plant online, safe and operating. We also believe in supporting the communities that our employees live and work with involvement in organizations such as “Rocking the Boat “which teaches students in the Bronx about the environment. We support environmental awareness programs and mentor students, including women, African American and Latinos about opportunities, in engineering, science and math so that they can become the next generation of individuals leading. Q: What are some decisions Entergy has taken to help the environment? A: The decisions range from small to large however they all have an impact, whether it’s choosing to recycle internally or asking our employees to carpool together. Bigger range examples are things like planting millions of trees in Westchester County and down south. We have also stewards at Hudson River in order to protect the aquatic life there. Q:What is a brief definition of sustainability? A: It’s not just a belief but it’s a practical action that can be implemented on a daily basis, in order to become a habit. It’s not about the scale, its about the consistency of ones effort. Q: What do you do in order to help the environment? A: In addition to my full time employment, I volunteer as the
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Pablo Villacis Merizalde
chairperson for the Friends of Westchester County Parks. This is a group that advocates and supports the county’s eighteen thousand acres of parks, trails and recreational facilities in Westchester. I am a big believer in our park system because it is the one entity that is open and enjoyed by all individuals. In addition, I participate in beautification of our parks and encourage recycling. Q: How do you think climate change has evolved ? A: I would say that ten years ago we didn’t even have a name for it and people were talking about global warming as a fluke only happening once when it’s warm outside but as we have seen in the past winter it happens in all seasons. Then in the last five to seven years we’ve had ice storms across the country, several hurricanes such as Katrina in the south and Hurricane Sandy in the northeast. With the introduction of the term climate change, the conversation has changed because it is a better descriptor of our world’s situation. Q: What made you become interested in working with an energy company? A: I have always had an interest in public policy, government and politics. Prior to working for Entergy, I worked in the New York Governor's Office and the New York State Legislature to develop and implement laws, as appropriate. I did not foresee the energy arena was going to be as intriguing as it has been. Q: How can kids help to take care of the environment? A: Kids can help by throwing away the garbage; I have seen a lot of kids throwing trash such as candy wrappers in the street when there is a place for them to put the garbage away. I can’t emphasize this enough. When people think about the environment they often think about the big solution. However, thatis an example of a small thing that everyone can do that yields to a large positive outcome and helps protect the environment. Q: What question haven’t I asked you? A: I actually would like to make a statement instead. “People focus on the environment on earth day, which is April 22 but that should not be the only time when we focus on it.” I agree with Joanne’s final remark. Environmental awareness should be something celebrated and practiced every day. Becoming conscious about the environment is key to taking care of our planet and that will define our eventual outcome.
KXP-On-Call Preguntas y Respuestas a Joanne Fernandez Por el Periodista KXP-On-Call Pablo Villacis Merizalde Joanne Fernandez
Joanne Fernandez es una parte muy importante de Entergy y compartió sus conocimientos sobre el medio ambiente. Esta entrevista incluye sus puntos de vista sobre el cambio climático y la sustentabilidad.
P: Descríbanos su trabajo. ¿Qué es lo que más le gusta ? R: Manejo asuntos gubernamentales de Entergy en el Estado de Nueva York, donde posee varias instalaciones de energía. Represento a la empresa antes los funcionarios, responsables políticos, reguladores y la comunidad sobre la legislación y la regulación propuesta para esas entidades. Lo que más me gusta de mi trabajo es que jNunca es lo mismo en el día a día! El tema es complejo, con muchas cosas que suceden al mismo tiempo, pero también es dinámico y aprendo sobre muchos temas diferentes, es parte de la configuración para resultado final. Q: ¿Cuál es la opinión de Entergy sobre el cambio climático en New York ? R: Creemos firmemente en el uso de la energía nuclear porque prácticamente no emite gases con efecto invernadero. Esto es extremadamente importante ya que las emisiones de gases con efecto invernadero contribuyen al calentamiento global. Creemos que la energía nuclear es parte de la solución para abordar el cambio climático y por lo tanto se están trabajando enérgicamente para mantener Indian Point funcionando. La energía nuclear es también una fuente estable y durante todo el año un recurso de energía para nuestra comunidad. Q: ¿Qué ha hecho Entergy para apoyar su meta? R: Hemos invertido millones de dólares para mantener la planta en línea, segura y en funcionamiento. También creemos en el apoyo a la comunidad donde viven y trabajan nuestros empleados, con la participación en organizaciones tales como "Rocking the Boat", que enseña a estudiantes del Bronx sobre el medio ambiente. Apoyamos programas de sensibilización ambiental y a estudiantes mentores, incluyendo mujeres, afroamericanos y latinos, dándoles oportunidades en ingeniería, ciencias y matemáticas, para que puedan convertirse en la próxima generación de líderes Q: ¿Cuáles son algunas de las decisiones que Entergy está tomado para ayudar al medio ambiente? R: Las decisiones van desde pequeñas a grandes, sin embargo todos tienen un impacto, ya sea si se trata de reciclar internamente o pidiendo a nuestros empleados a compartir un viaje. Ejemplos más grandes en el área de distribución son, la plantación de millones de árboles en el Condado de Westchester y en el sur. También cuidamos el Río Hudson con el fin de proteger la vida acuática allí. Q: ¿Cuál es una breve definición de la sustentabilidad? R: No es sólo una creencia, sino que es una acción práctica que puede ser aplicada en lo cotidiano, con el fin de convertirse en un hábito. No es acerca de la escala, es acerca de la coherencia de los esfuerzos.
Pablo Villacis Merizalde
Q: ¿Qué hace con el fin de ayudar al medio ambiente? R: Además de mi trabajo a tiempo completo, me ofrezco como presidente de los amigos de Westchester County Parks. Este es un grupo que defiende y financia dieciocho mil hectáreas de parques, senderos e instalaciones recreativas en el Condado de Westchester. Soy una gran creyente en nuestro sistema de parques, porque es la única entidad abierta y de la que disfrutan todas las personas. Además, participo en el embellecimiento de nuestros parques y fomento el reciclaje. Q: ¿Cómo cree que el cambio climático ha evolucionado? R: Yo diría que hace diez años ni siquiera teníamos un nombre para él y la gente hablaba de calentamiento global como un golpe de suerte, que sólo sucede una vez cuando hace calor, pero como hemos visto en el pasado invierno, ocurre en todas las estaciones. Luego, en los últimos cinco a siete años, hemos tenido tormentas de hielo en todo el país, varios huracanes, Katrina en el sur y Sandy en el noreste. Con la introducción del término cambio climático, la conversación ha cambiado porque es una mejor descripción de la situación de nuestro mundo. Q: ¿Porqué se interesó en trabajar en un empresa de energía? R: Siempre he tenido interés en el orden público, el gobierno y la política. Antes de trabajar para Entergy, trabajé en la Oficina del Gobierno de Nueva York y en la Legislatura del Estado de Nueva York para desarrollar e implementar leyes. No me imaginé que el campo de la energía iba a ser tan intrigante como lo ha sido. Q: ¿Cómo pueden los niños ayudar a cuidar el medio ambiente? R: Los niños pueden ayudar con la basura. He visto un montón de niños que tiran basura, envoltorios de caramelos, en la calle aún cuando hay tarros de basura. No puedo enfatizar esto lo suficiente. Cuando la gente piensa sobre el medio ambiente, a menudo piensa sobre una gran solución. Sin embargo esto es un ejemplo de una pequeña cosa que todo el mundo puede hacer y que los rendimientos dan un gran resultado positivo y ayuda a proteger el medio ambiente. Q: ¿Qué pregunta no le hice? R: De hecho, en su lugar me gustaría hacer una declaración. "La gente se concentra en el medio ambiente en el día de la tierra, que es el 22 de abril, pero no debería ser en el único momento en que nos focalizamos en ello. Estoy de acuerdo con observación final de Joanne. La conciencia ambiental debería ser algo celebrado y practicado todos los días. La toma de conciencia sobre el medio ambiente es la clave para el cuidado de nuestro planeta y esto definirá un resultado para el futuro. Translated by Gabriela Madrid
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Letters to the
Illustration by John Spencer Englert
Hi me, in the future. One thing I am concerned about is that the animals are becoming exctinct. The animals are being hunted too much. For example, elephants are bei ng hunted for ivory and some tigers are being hun ted and the dodo bird is already extinct! What I wan t to know is are there still lots of animals or are all of them almost extinct? Have mean humans killed them all? We should not hunt them, only if we absolutely need to the meat. We should not pollute their environment and water. I hope there are turtles, dog s, cats, elephants, furry animals, birds, fish, dogs, whales , lions. Bye Spencer, . John Spencer Englert
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Dear future self, I want to info rm you that in a couple of years the sun is going to burst. If the sun burs ts you will no t be able to see or get he at. Global w a rming is when the Ea rth gets hot. This is due to littering, p olluting garb age in the ocean. I hop e you will list en to me. It is extreme to prevent glo b al warming. If th e sun bursts y ou will not be able to see or gen erate heat. C o n n o r Fa y
Illustration by Connor Fay
g l warmin a b , lo e G m . ture such as gh year u s t o r a Dear fu it a b n a ming as bee in icy h n is bea u 2015 h over! Animals s l u f en e. A e harm has tak ying. Th ging the climat from d e r a n g tic the Arc and snow, cha global warmin N! t e n EE on the ic p or help preve ts is to GO GR ake m ita to way to s destroying hab Reducing is to ! . r le h o d recyc things as muc ter melting n a , e s u , re use ic wa Reduce r not to ny plast o a r m e ll g a in m s things s le instead of u r container. p m ate a For ex usable w e r a e s u bottles aurin ne McL le a d a M
Dear Daniel Jr. I am writing to you to tell you about air pollution. It’s really bad in 2015. We might spray the air and sky with blue spray paint. You should recycle plastics, paper and glass. Don’t smoke either, it makes the air bad and can cause asthma. Adios. Daniel Reichman
Environment
Hi future me, If you cut too m any trees you w ill get less oxygen. You shouldn’t cut so many trees. Also drive less to produce less gas. Don’t pollute the wat er because fish and other sea creatures can ge t stuck in garbag e and die. There are man y negative outc omes. These are the reasons you shouldn’t po llute. This is a warning be ca utious and take action! Shalom Ramos
ture is is your fu h T ! E G SA S polluting URGENT ME ople to stop pe THIS IS AN er th o e whole st convinc se soon the au self; you mu ec b is th . must do y to humans h lt ea h the air. You un d rbines, polluted an use wind tu to earth will be em th e convinc reduce the For example, r power. Solar power can d of us sola cause instea be or even use , on ti llu e air po s that use amount of th e can use powered thing g advanced w in ne us li so is ga le p g m n usi exa wer. Another turbines are the sun for po d water turbines. Water calle rents. turbine. It’s ng wave cur ro st by d e er AST! turned or pow CT TO THIS MESSAGE F son Brown Ma EA YOU MUST R
D ea r J a d a, I hope in te pollution n years there wil l and oil s pills in th be less won’t se e dead fi e ocean, sh. so they cou ld get stu The fish can die you ck in th b The fish ecause e trash a erman w n ill dd be no m ore or th go to fish and th ie. ey will b ere will e rotten . Meredith Hill
Dear future gen erations, Please be cauti ous of pollution and deforestation. N ow in 2015, thin gs are getting bad. People are greedy these day s. They don’t care about the environment an ymore. It ’s the sad truth. Luckily , we can put an end to this. I am hoping that technological ad vances in the future will allow us to make envi ronmentfriendly cars, bu t right now, cars burn gas and pollute our air. Cleanup, do som e community service. Just pic king up a few st ra y plastic bags would help – al though; in the fu ture, I would think plastic bag s are eliminated and there is a more efficient re placement. I am writing this for you and ever yone around th e world. Please think about this , and spread th e word! Lisa Dodell
Illustration by Lisa Dodell
In 2015 Hi future me, your thirties. in ly ab b ro p uld You’re starting. I sho st ju as w g in ut of global warm before it got o it p o st to d f have trie king instead o al w y b lp e h use hand, you can coal for fires, f o ad e st In . Is it bad? using cars llution there? o p re e th help Is . wood ture? You can fu e th in s e e recycle. Are there tr ctric cars, and le e re o m g in by mak adman Brandon Bre
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Dear future read er, I am writing yo u from 2015 to tell you about the defo restation happen ing around this tim e. As you alread y know, trees by themse lves are very vita l to our lives. Trees take in carbon d io xide and provide oxy gen for us to liv e. Trees may also provid e shelter for an imals which are neces sary for a healt h y ecosystem. We take many reso urces from the ecosy stem. At this ra te we will start having less and less trees. Trees take a wh ile to grow and we use trees way too o ften. So please take n otice of this extr eme issue and don’t hesitate to take ac tion! Devin Baydar
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Illustration by Marilisa Cappello
ris Jr. Dear future me and Ch treat the I think that you should bal warming earth right because glo melted the is happening and has nguins won’t glaciers. Animals like pe uld probably have a habitat and co ed. Also I think make them endanger s and factories that gases from vehicle it hurts the release gas in the air, can also affect world in many ways. It canhurt our us; breathing in bad air lungs. Christopher Bradley
Dear fu tur 2015 ha e me, sb pollutio een a bad year n. as far as What w ill the futu you do about t hi re? You could tr s in factorie y t o st o s fr p much st om manufactu uff whic ring so h make so dirty s the air . The ex ha also pla ys a role ust from cars in this d filled ai irt r. If we c an find make ev a er w environ ything electrica ay to ment-fr l or iendly t lives wo h e n our ul environ d be much bett m en t w er, the oul our cho ices too d benefit from ! Madeli ne Ciam oa
re self, carefully. Dear futu ading this, read it save re e way to h t o t g If you are ed in ave realiz en’t listen h r a le p le o p e o p e P t of n’t t. Not a lo pollution, etc. are the plane , g al warmin an inform people that glob ec ea etter. If w e can mak e w , getting b n o g in er at’s go ing bad h t t e g about wh e r a rgy e. Things rving ene e s differenc n o c y es r us. B y resourc g r e n e already fo t n ore efficie is going finding m eople know what arth gp eautiful e ke b e h t e and lettin v r n ma can conse people ca f o le on so we p u o Just a c ce. we have. better pla a ld r o w the Cappello Marilisa
RECIPES TO SAVE THE PLANET Alison’s Recipe By Kids X-Press Reporter Alison Ulbrich
Step 1: No littering! Throw waste in the trash not on the ground.
Step 2: Recycle! When you are done with your drink put the can or bottle in the recycling bin so it can be used again.
Step 3: Pollution is bad! Switch to hybrid or battery electric cars
Step 4: No oil, or gas! Stop using gasoline it is bad for the earth.
Caitlin’s Recipe By Kids X-Press Reporter Caitlin Clark
My recipe to save the planet is: to prevent littering. I am going to talk about how littering effects animals and the environment. Littering is bad for the environment because it could kill many animals. When you put trash into the ocean, imagine a little fish getting stuck in a Doritos bag. That’s because of littering.
1- Raising Awareness 2- Take action 3- Make posters and put them in the park, on the beach 4- Stop putting trash in the ocean. 5- Recycle, things can be reinvented instead of trash. 6- Stop littering! It will affect our environment in the future!
Yes! Stop littering. Recycle!
Illustration by Meredith Hill
Here are the ingredients you will need to save the planet:
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Visiting New Places By Kids X-Press Reporter Ataur Muhith
The final reason why it is important to visit new places is because you can always and I mean always visit the place again. What I mean is when you really like a place you may want to investigate and find out more about the place. One time I went to Gantry State Plaza Park with my brother. When we got there I already loved the entrance. I did not want to leave, but I went home and told my brother I would investigate and learn more about this place. I love visiting that place, all the time. Convinced? After reading all my reasons of why you should visit new places, I think you are! Ok so from now on you should really go to different places and learn, have fun and repeat.
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Spring
By Kids X-Press Reporter Ashrar Aunuvuty In this paragraph I am going to talk about spring. I love spring. Spring makes me smile. One reason I love spring is because it is not too hot or cold in spring. Did you know spring is nature's birthday? I love the sound of the birds chirping in spring. Another reason I love spring is because you can plant seeds and it might grow if you take good care of it. Sometimes I go to the park and I also play with my friends in my neighborhood. Do you like to play in spring? As you can see I love spring so much.
Illustration by Ashrar Aunuvuty
You can visit any place. They can be big places, small places. They can be dry places watery places. It’s important to visit new places. Do you know why? Well let me tell you why. There are many reasons, but I will talk about three specific things. Visiting places is really good because you can explore. The other reason is because you can have fun visiting new places and the final reason is you may grow to like or love the place. First, visiting places is food because you can explore new things. To support that reason I am going to provide more information. When you explore new things, you learn. Learning keeps your brain very busy. For example I went to Far Rockaway and learned a lot. Secondly, visiting new places is good because you can have fun. When I went to Far Rockaway I had so much fun! Want to know why? I had fun going on the bridge, in a store, in one of the buildings, and a lot more places. In the store I got to see a lot of cool new things and I bought some things. Having fun is good for your body. That is also why visiting me places is good, it brings happiness and fun.
(Stand Up to Bullying) By Kids X-Press Reporter Lauren Sulaiman What do you think when you hear the word bullying? It is a devastating phenomenon in our society today. Bullying is when someone keeps doing or saying things to have power over another person. They can write disturbing things about a person making them feel uncomfortable. Many people have gone through this problem nto knowing how to resolve or overcome it. However, all it takes is a little confidence to make the world a better place and to stop bullies from hurting innocent individuals. There are many forms of bullying. Cyber-bullying is when someone is using the internet to harass someone. They can post pictures, or say gruesome things on social media. I can relate to this type of bullying. My sister was bullied in the sixth grade by an older girl. One day she came to home from school and opened her laptop, the girl started texting inappropriate things to my sister. Good thing she knew the right thing to do. My parents told the school guidance counselor about the situation, who the students were and the girl later faced severe consequences. How can bullying affect someone? The effects of bullying can range from feeling uncomfortable to thoughts of suicide. After battling many days of this situation you may feel like there is no other way to stop it, and you might think that this is the only way it’ll end. When feeling overwhelmed by the problem, you might keep quiet and never talk when the bully is present. What can you do to stop bullying? Parents are a major help when putting a stop to bullying, especially when they notify the school on what’s happening. Parents could talk to the school about placing security guards and cameras outside and inside each floor of the school to make sure no one is causing harm to others or self.
Parents and teachers should educate the students on bullying. If their children come in contact with a bully they’ll know exactly what to do. Guidance counselors, teachers, parents should work together to stand up against bullying. There are plethoras of ways to prevent bullying. You shouldn’t let bullying take control over your life. Take this advice and see how it feels to be free from fear. In my opinion, if you are having a hard time overcoming a bully, tell an adult so they can help you out. As I said, all you need is a little confidence to make this world a better place. So what do you think about bullying, are you going to put a stop to it?
School Bus By Kids X-Press Reporter Avneet Kaur This is my school bus. I think my school bus is very cool. I like my school bus because my school bus drives me and my class on trips! I love going on trips. My favorite trip was going to New York Hall of Science located on 47-01 111th Street, Queens, NY 11368. The one thing I don’t like about buses are in the winter it snows and the bus can pollute the snow. The snow doesn’t stay white it gets black and polluted.
Illustration by Avneet Kaur
Respect For All
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KXP-On-Call “Bad Hair Does Not Exist!” Kids X-Press Reporters White Plains Girl Scout Troop 2360 Jackie, Graziella, Arianna, Brianna, Carys, Amoy, Isabella, Charlotte Our Girl Scout troop in White Plains, New York was privileged to meet author Sulma Arzu-Brown along with her daughter Suleni. Mrs. Arzu-Brown wrote a book titled “Bad Hair Does Not Exist”. She read her story to us and answered our questions.
KXP: What inspired you to write this story? S.A.B.: My daughters were my inspiration for this book. My daughters, like me, have very natural hair and it’s common to hear in our community “pelo malo” or “bad hair”. I didn’t want my daughters to ever feel that something of theirs was bad or not beautiful. I want them to feel good about themselves. S.A.B.: What is your goal in telling this story? SAB: My goal is to do away with the bullying term “bad hair.” KXP: How do you get a book published? S.A.B.: Well, you go to your best friend who has a publishing company. Ha-ha! Always make sure you have amazing friends around you. They are great resources! KXP: Who published it? S.A.B.: Afro-Latin Publishing KXP: Did the illustrator draw pictures of girls she knew? S.A.B.: Not necessarily. I Googled pictures and asked the illustrator to try the hairstyles I found for the book. KXP: Do you know the illustrator of your book? S.A.B.: Yes. Her name is Isidra Sabio and she is my best friend and daughter’s Godmother. She is actually a scientist but loves art and loves to draw. 24
Sulma Arzu-Brown
She started a publishing company and also is an author. KXP: Why did you choose those hairstyles? S.A.B.: I looked at the community around me and wanted to represent and include all the people I saw. KXP: Is there a reason why this book doesn’t have boys with different hairstyles? S.A.B.: Yes! The boys in the community, at least where I live, really don’t go to the beauty parlors. I only hear the term “pelo malo” used against little girls. I have little girls, and the term seemed very repetitive. I plan to include boys in my future books. KXP: Do you ever feel some days that you are having a bad hair day? S.A.B.: Sometimes when I wash my hair and don’t condition it. It gets tangled and tousled and I can’t get a comb through it. KXP: Do you enjoy writing? S.A.B.: I do enjoy writing very much! KXP: When did you decide to become a writer? S.A.B.: When God put in my heart on June 6th, 2014. KXP: Was this your first book? S.A.B.: Yes it was my first book.
KXP: Do you plan on writing more stories? S.A.B.: Yes! I have two more books coming out. One is co-authored with my daughter Suleni, and is being edited as we speak and should be out early 2016. The name of the upcoming book is My Dolls, My Family, and My Friends. It’s about a 10 year old little girl who does really well in school, so her mom decides to start a doll collection for her. What she doesn’t realize is that her mom has a plan and is trying to educate her. When she gets to the store, she has to pick dolls that reflect her family, and her friends. The dolls have to represent her community. KXP: What do you think is the best way to let people know about your book and the message it gives? S.A.B.: The best way is by telling people just like you to share it with your friends and family members and pass it on. Even your teachers can share it with the class. KXP: Is your book at the library? S.A.B.: It is at the New Rochelle library now, and also available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. KXP: Is there something we didn’t ask that you want us to know? S.A.B.: I want you all to know that we live in a very diverse community with different cultures.
White Plains Girl Scout troop We all need to learn to respect one another, and each person’s individuality. Especially as girls, we need to compliment each other, and lift each other up as much as possible. It was really fun having Sulma Arzu-Brown and her daughter Suleni tell us about the book. We enjoyed our interview and conversations with them. We learned her message is that every one is special and that bad hair does not exist. The term “bad hair” is hurtful to say and shouldn’t be used. Our troop promised her we would read and share her book to help spread her important message. Be sure to pick up a copy and spread the message too!
Suleni’s Book Review By Kids X-Press Reporter Suleni Tisani Sabio-Arzu The book “Bad Hair Does Not Exist” inspired me to love my hair and to also love everyone's hair. You see, before my mom’s book I thought that my hair was horrible, and I even asked my mother to relax my hair, or to even straighten my hair. I asked her this because I wanted to look like other people at school. But something I hated most was being jealous of my friends. When you hang with your friends you are happy. When you get home you start to forget a bout all those fun moments, and those best friendship bracelets. And you start to gain jealousy. Well I went through this. My mother’s book changed my life. Suleni Tisani Sabio-Arzu I started to see the beauty in everyone. When we go shopping I compliment everyone. I compliment all types of hair. But someone who I really started to love was myself. I started to stare in the mirror all day posing. When you look in the mirror I want you to stay for a couple of minutes and admire your beauty. But don't forget to study as hard as possible. 25
Solar Panel By Kids X-Press Poet Remi Zelaya and Braylin Cruz
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Sustainable By Kids X-Press Poets Idiatou Diallo and Chloe Santos
ustain means to endure .S.A needs to be a smart sustainable country ustainable development needs sustainable energy he simple definition of sustanability is things good for the environment. ll people should recycle t’s a bad idea to use a lot of smoke ew York City is full of pollution. better earth is needed ad air is terrible for the earth earn to be green. verybody should reduce, reuse and recycle.
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E veryone uses energy, however N ot everybody uses energy efficiently. E nergy gives us power to do things. R enewable energy is the best to use because it G ets you running. Y ou all should use energy efficiently! 26
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My Soul By Kids X-Press Poet Jennifer Vasquez
Even though we’re not together I thought it was forever. But now that we are apart You still stole my heart. Many things come through But I don’t know what to do Because it’s all about you. When you come near me I don’t know how to feel about you. No matter what you do I’m still going to love you. People say that time will fly But when I’m with you it feels like a lie. When I’m with you I can be myself But never someone else. I fell apart Because you broke my heart. But I am still standing strong While you are laughing about all the things you did wrong.