Parenting●Education●Assistance●Support February 2014 Edition
has social media helped in bringing
g
Ma azine P.E.A.S. 1. Magazine Publication of Peas In Their Pods
www.peasintheirpods.com
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February is National Heart Awareness Month Did you know over 300,000 Americans die suddenly and unexpectedly due to cardiac arrhythmias each year and many are children or young adults? A quick, painless and non-invasive EKG test can iden-
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tify 40-50 percent of at-risk children. Take time this month to plan to get your child tested. Screens for Teens will be offering free EKG testing for students of the following Chicagoarea schools during the month of February. Please see the schools or our website for registration forms. EKGyourTeen.org
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The Max Schewitz Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 by the family and friends of Max Schewitz who died from sudden cardiac death at the age of twenty. The Max Schewitz Foundation's mission is two-fold: 1.To support education, prevention, and research of sudden cardiac death in young people. 2.To support environmental conservation, a lifelong area of interest to Max. Specifically to support through education and conservation fragile and threatened ecosystems and species.
PEAS IN THEIR PODS
Janice Lowery Chief Executive Officer
www.peasintheirpods.com
GaĂŠtane Borders President/Training Specialist
February Featured Missing Children
Denise Bethune Editor/P.E.A.S. Magazine/ Publicity Manager
6.)
Gaetane Borders Social Media & Missing Children of Color
Paula Whitebear Administrative Assistant
Community Change Agents
Yolanda Butler Business Consultant
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TeenSircles
Our mission is to enrich the lives of teen girls, between the ages of 12 and 17, by providing the life skills needed to become a productive adult and a benefit to society as a whole.
10.)
Polished Pebbles
Polished Pebbles is a program that provides girls with the opportunity to learn the vital life skill of effective communication. We provide girls with non-violent and non-aggressive means to selfidentify, response to threats of violence, interpersonal conflict, and the challenges of daily living.
20. ) Gathered Dreamz, Inc Envisions a community in which every girl and young woman in foster care can experience nurturing one-to-one relationships and community support, which in turn allows each of them to develop into their full potential, capable of making informed, responsible decisions as involved members of our community.
22. ) Sporty Girls Inc. Provide young minority girls the opportunity to participate in non traditional sports – those offered in metro Atlanta public schools but not traditionally played by minority girls.
Children’s Books 18.) (late) Author John Steptoe
24.) Author/Radio Host Mr. Wes Hall
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Vickie Britton Researcher for Missing Children Anita Harris Parent Mentor Marcus Dent Guardian Angel Nancy Fairbanks Webmaster Peas In Their Pods is an incorporated not-forprofit organization that provides a specific service to those who have missing loved ones. The organization is self-funded, and is comprised of a team of volunteers who work diligently to assist families during their time of greatest need. We are here to help parents find their missing children. We do not take the place of the Amber Alert System. We simply pick up where they leave off or never engage due to program criteria. Peas In Their Pods Organizational goal takes pride in helping to find missing children of color, fight against child abuse, and provide information to the public.
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Social Media and Missing Children of Color Gaetane Borders Has social media helped with the issue of awareness for missing children of color? The
go to the various news stations for interviews. No doubt, TV interviews are a priceless form of expo-
short answer is “Yes!” However, there’s far more that needs to be said about this. To begin, the staff at Peas In Their Pods has been working hard
sure. However, what makes social media equally valuable is the fact that it allows everyone the opportunity to express what’s important to them.
for many years to make all missing children a me-
So I encourage everyone to continue clicking,
dia priority. However, those early days of advocating were tiresome, lonely, and some days
copying, pasting, forwarding, tagging, replying, and commenting. It could very well help to find
downright frustrating. It seemed like everyone
one of the precious missing children about which
we reached out to turned us away. Reputable news entities, radio, print, and TV, refused to
we post. Love, Gaétane
share any of the stories that we pitched to them.
With her bubbly and feisty personality, Gaétane is able to reach a broad audience. Her experience is diverse, and her passion is unparalleled. As one of Georgia's highly acclaimed School Psychologists, Gaétane has devoted her life to making an impact in the lives of families. She is an advocate of children rights, and works tirelessly to help parents achieve healthy, harmonious, and emotionally stable environments for children. As President of Peas in Their Pods, Gaétane helps to spread awareness about the epidemic of child abduction, and aims to arm parents with the knowledge necessary to prevent such tragedies. Her dedication to empowering parents has made her sought after, as she is often asked to contribute her expertise on radio shows, magazines and television programs. She has been featured on the Maury Povich Show, CNN News Room, CBS The Early Show, Real Savvy Moms, and has written articles for Essence.com, and various other publications. Gaétane is also a regular contributor to the Nancy Grace Show. As a frequent guest parenting expert on Fox's The Morning Show, Gaétane shared effective parenting techniques that resonated with the viewers.
Even publications that target African Americans showed no interest. In fact, one of the editors of a popular Black Magazine emailed us and asked that we stop sending her stories because she did not want to read them. Sigh… Through it all, we maintained our online presence. Our website stayed updated, and we watched our Facebook following swell. We realized some time ago that we cannot rely solely on the popular media to spread awareness. Therefore, we availed to everyday people to help us….and that they did! People will repost, forward, or tag stories and images of the missing children that we share. What a difference this has made! In addition, there have been so many people enlightened about how much of an issue this is in the community of color simply by them reading stories online. It was only about three years ago that the popular media started to take interest about the discrepancy at which missing children are represented in the media. I strongly believe that it is because of what they were observing happening in the social media sphere. It wasn’t long before they began calling, and it is with pleasure that I
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In Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, John Steptoe combines stunning illustrations to create almost mystical surround-
ings for his characters, surroundings which serve to distinguish between the baser human characteristics, greed and pride, and those which we as humans must emulate, such as mercy and compassion. Steptoe creates the story's setting using the flora and fauna of an ancient ruin in Zimbabwe; the story itself is an English adaptation of a local African tale from today's indigenous inhabitants of the area. By encompassing a spiritual tale in realistic settings, Steptoe forces the reader to blur the line between reality and magic; however, this "magic" galvanizes to action by drawing distinctions between compassion and greed with which young readers can easily identify. This is the story of two sisters, Manyara and Nyasha, the beautiful daughters of Mufaro, two believably human girls who embody the characteristics of pride and humility. Children will quickly see that Manyara is selfish and ill tempered and that her promise to make her sister a servant in her house is based on jealousy. On the other hand, Nyasha is calm and kind; an aura of peace surrounds every action. Her singing, the villagers think, causes her garden to produce more bountifully than the others'. Even the animals find her friendly. She names
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and befriends a garden snake named Nyoka. The plot itself serves as a didactic tale with which children will identify. Themes of sibling rivalry and false appearances dominate the text. Steptoe mentions that the only person fooled into believing that Manyara is as kind as her sister is Mufaro, a theme that might resonate with children who endure the trials of living with siblings. The true test of character, however, comes when the King announces his search for a bride. In characteristic form, Manyara leaves in the middle of the night to unfairly secure the king's favor. In a form similar to many Anglo-Saxon fairy tales, she encounters three tests on the way to the king and fails miserably. A young boy begs for food; she brusquely pushes him aside. An old woman gives her invaluable advice about upcoming obstacles; she rejects the advice deliberately and proceeds in her journey. This obstinate behavior is rewarded when a fiveheaded monster greets her at the end of her journey. However, Steptoe also allows this character to partially redeem herself. While fleeing from the monster, Manyara encounters Mufaro and Nyasha. Showing consideration for another person for the first time in this narrative, Manyara begs her father and sister to avoid the palace. The monster knew her faults, she tells them, and the outcome of the story suggests that this was enough to cause her to change her ways. Steptoe toys with the fine line dividing the spiritual world from the material world, as well as building a suspenseful plot. It is this unconcern for the shape of the living being, be it male or female, young or old, animal or human, supernatural or common, that Steptoe stresses. Children will enjoy the reality of his illustrations, while adults will realize the deeper underlying message about the common threads that bind all human life: respect and admiration bring great reward.
Polished Pebbles is a program that provides girls with the opportunity to learn the vital life skill of effective communication. We provide girls with non-violent and non-aggressive means to self-identify, response to threats of violence, interpersonal conflict, and the challenges of daily living. Additionally, we equip girls with skills that allow them to develop the confidence and ability to: Speak up in class Join groups and seek leadership positions Communicate effectively and respectfully with adults Have peaceful interactions with their peers Literacy advocate and mentor, Kelly Fair, founded Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program in 2009. An active member in her community, Kelly’s passion for youth and female-specific enrichment programs inspired her to consult for several other non-profit organizations as an educational consultant and trainer in addition to Polished Pebbles. Kelly’s current and previous board memberships include
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Bronzeville Community Action Council, Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League, Chicago Women in Publishing, the International Reading Association, the Advocacy Council of Women Employed, Inc., and the Christ Universal Temple Board of Directors. She continues to support organizations where she can collaborate with others interested in community improvement and literacy. She recently received recognition from Verizon Wireless’ Everyday Heroes initiative for her service in the community. But she wasn’t always in the non-profit business. Prior to working in the nonprofit sector, Kelly implemented literacy programs, performed research studies training and designed curriculum for various college prep programs. While working for McGraw-Hill, Kelly’s roles included management of national marketing for literacy products and oversight of research studies. That professional experience helped to inspire her transition to the non-profit world and to launch Polished Pebbles. Kelly graduated from Howard University with a degree in Speech Pathology minoring in Psychology and completed her master’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Iowa. She uses her educational background to instill effective communication skills via the Polished Pebbles S.H.I.N.E. : Smile, Hello, Introduce, Nod your head, End the conversation. polishedpebbles.com
2ND ANNUAL “HONK FOR ALL MISSING PERSONS” CAMPAIGN
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR JOIN THE COMMUNITY: ANNUAL HONK FOR ALL MISSING PERSONS
In honor of National Missing Children’s Day (May 25) the Guardian Angels – Baltimore Chapter and Peas in Their Pods are hosting a nationwide campaign across the country where participants hold signs and banners of missing persons from that area to raise awareness of the number of people who go missing each year. Date – Sunday June 1st 2014 (Rain Date June 7th 2014) Time - 11:30 AM TO 1:00 P.M. Who - The Baltimore Guardian Angels and Pea In Their Pods!
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MISSING Seeking Information On These Missing Children Kevin McClam Kevin was last seen at 1:00 a.m. on March 30, 1997 at his family's residence in Goose Creek, South Carolina. The home is located in the Charleston Naval Weapons Station; his family was in the U.S. Navy in 1997. Kevin was playing video games with his younger sister that evening. When his mother came home, they spoke for awhile and Kevin's sister and mother went to bed. Kevin said he would stay up and play more video games. When his family members woke up, he had disappeared. He has never been heard from again. Kevin's clothing was found two days after his disappearance, at a nearby construction site. The articles of clothing were separated by about five or ten feet along the road. There was no sign of him at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing a person who matched Kevin's description walking along a dirt road near the construction site during the afternoon hours of March 30. The individual was wearing only sneakers and boxer shorts and appeared to be alone and not under duress. Kevin's mother says it is uncharacteristic of him to leave without warning; he never missed a meal and always returned home by dark. He was an eighth-grader at Marrington Middle School at the time of his disappearance, a good student who was well-liked by teachers and did not use drugs. He played basketball. His mother believes her son possibly sneaked out of his house to meet his friends the night he vanished, but all of Kevin's friends deny having seen him on the night he went missing. There was no sign of forced entry to his home. In early 2006, authorities announced they were investigating Kevin's case as a homicide due to new forensic evidence and new tips from the public. An unsuccessful search for his remains was conducted in the Goose Creek area in October. In December, authorities publicly named a suspect in Kevin's presumed murder: Thomas McCardle, who is presently incarcerated on unrelated robbery charges. A photograph of him is posted below this case summary. Another man, Michael Moorcroft, reportedly bragged about how he and McCardle had killed Kevin. Moorcroft, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing related to Kevin's disappearance, claims he only made up the story. Kevin was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His family moved out of South Carolina in 1998 and currently live in Georgia
Kimberly Arrington Kimberly Arrington was 16 when she disappeared more than a decade ago, and her father still waits for her to come home. So does a little girl she never met who carries her name. Walter Arrington remembers "a good girl" who enjoyed listening to music, dancing and learning computers at school, where she was well-behaved. " I feel like this might be my last chance of ever seeing my daughter or somebody recovering her," he said, hoping a story would compel someone to come forward. Someone may have asked his daughter for directions, Walter Arrington believes, and forced her into a car as she walked to a CVS pharmacy near her home Montgomery, Alabama, on the day before Halloween, October 30, 1998. "Most people liked her, and she was very friendly towards everybody,'' he said. "I felt like maybe that's part of the reason why they got her.'' Walter Arrington was leaving for work the last time he saw his daughter. She was already talking about Christmas, he said, asking about her gifts. That's the picture that stays in his mind. "I can hear her talking
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and see her talking from that day now,'' Walter Arrington said. "And I can't go on any further, because I'm at a standstill until I find out what happened to her. ... It is something that I carry with me every day.'' Kimberly Arrington left the family's home about 5 p.m., telling her mother where she was going, according to police. And then she simply vanished. Kim Arrington's mother, who was ill, died in 2005. "It wasn't easy for her, either,'' Walter Arrington said, recalling that one of the last things his wife asked was whether he will continue to look for Kim. Whatever her fate, Kimberly Arrington's name lives on. Six years ago, her sister Jennifer named her daughter Kim, after her missing aunt. The girl, who knows that her mother's sister is missing, often asks when she's going to meet "Auntie Kim." Her disappearance remains a mystery with few clues and no strong leads, according to investigators in Montgomery. "We had nobody that saw her get snatched up. Nobody found her purse or jacket or anything on the side of the road,'' Barnett said. "She just disappeared. She left home and disappeared.'' Whether Arrington made it to the pharmacy after she left home shortly after 5 p.m. will probably never be known. No credible witnesses came forward, and there was no surveillance video from the store. Police canvassed the area from Arrington's house to the CVS store, searching for signs of struggle and belongings she may have dropped. But they came up empty-handed. It's an unsolved missing persons case, said Barnett, who avoids using the term "cold case." "It'll never be closed until she's located one way or another, however she's found,'' he said, adding that the department will look into any tip. "Whether we find her deceased or whether we find her alive, we'd like to bring some kind of closure to the family,'' Barnett said. Because her DNA is not available, police have sent samples from her father and one of her sisters to a national database. In the hours after she vanished, Arrington was considered a runaway, which is indicated on the police report. “All we thought we had was possibly a girl that left home for a few hours to be with friends, boyfriends or whatever and was coming back home,'' said Lt. Rickey Fennie, who is now in charge of the investigation. "But it didn't take long for us to realize that probably was not the case.'' Asked whether time or crucial opportunities to find her may have been lost, Barnett said: ''Unfortunately, at the initial time of the report, we had no information or evidence from anyone, including the parents, that pointed at foul play being involved.'' Barnett says there was a two- to three-hour delay when Arrington's parents reported her missing because they had gone looking for her on their own. "So, no, I do not feel that any vital leads were missed, because all the proper actions were taken as soon as it looked as if this might be more than a runaway,'' he said. According to the missing-person posters, Arrington was 5'4'' and 110 pounds. She was wearing a gray Bugle Boy shirt with a collar, light blue jeans and white Reebok sneakers with gray trim. She has a scar on her stomach. Now she would be 31 years old. If you have any information on this case please call The Montgomery Police Department (Alabama) 1-334-241-2651
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Good self-esteem and a strong support system make a big difference in the decisions that people make Sharon L. Cummings,MBA Executive Director/Founder I am who I am And that’s who God made me to be I do not have to conform to what you expect to see In me is a Queen with the world at her feet So it is with dignity, self-love, and pride that I speak I thank those who made it possible for me to lead And now I pave the way for others to succeed What makes our organization different? The challenges facing today’s teen differ from those facing teens as little as three generations ago. The media reports that childhood ends as early as the age of ten. Many teen servicing organizations focus primariOur mission is to enrich the lives of teen girls, between the ages of 12 and 17, by providing the life skills needed to become a productive adult and a
ly on crisis or solely on what appears to be “teen topics.” Teen Sircles stands apart from similar organizations as it focuses on providing the life skills need-
Teen Sircles, a division of Sircles, focuses on the pre-
ed to live a productive life as well as learning to appreciate what normally gets taken for granted. We equip our young ladies with the financial training,
sent and the future with an understanding that the
social skills, and emotional intelligence needed to
past provides learning opportunities and planning tools. Our mission is to enrich the lives of teen girls,
become successful women. Most importantly, we build self-esteem and teach critical thinking which
between the ages of 12 and 17, by providing the life
arms them with the confidence and ability to make
skills needed to become a productive adult and a benefit to society as a whole. We empower our teens with the knowledge that they can become anything
the best decisions regardless of the situation.
benefit to society as a whole.
they so desire and do not have to succumb to negative vices of life. Our motto, Encouraging and Empowering the Women of Tomorrow, provides a simplified summary of our organizational goals. In turn, the women of tomorrow are afforded the opportunity to continue the cycle of growth and guidance by reaching back to assist Teen Sircles, becoming members of Sircles, or creating new opportunities for developing young minds. At the end of each meeting, we recite the following creed as a reminder of our abilities and duties to those who paved the way and those who have yet to walk the path:
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The importance of the success of our members only succeeds the safety of our members. Thriving requires a safe and comfortable environment with provisions for the basic needs. Each month, our members gather to listen to invited guest speakers, engage in character and confidence building activities, and discuss various aspects of the teen experience. We provide handbooks for each topic and encourage open discussions with parents or guardians regarding the subject matter. As we grow our organization, we plan to provide a safe house for homeless, runaway, and orphaned teens. Education opens the doors opportunities. teensircles.org
MISSING Seeking Information On These Missing Children
Shateema Harrison Shateema was last seen on June 14, 2013 in Sacramento, CA. Shateema is 5*1 inches tall, weighs 98 lbs, has long black hair and brown eyes. If you have information regarding this case, please contact Sacramento County Sheriff's Office (California) 1-916-8745115
Stephen Beard Stephen was last seen by his guardian in Baltimore, Maryland on June 2, 2001. He frequented the areas of North Avenue, Calvert and Charles streets in Baltimore, particularly night clubs in that area, prior to his disappearance. He may also be in Virginia. If you know anything about this case Please call The Baltimore Police Department (Maryland) 1-410-3072020
More than 45 million young people in the U.S., 2 out of 3 have had a mentor by the time they reach the age of 19. This means that 30 million young people, including 15 million experiencing risk factors, will have the support of a mentor by age 19, confirming that the mentoring effect powerfully impacts millions of young people now more than ever before. P.E.A.S.
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MISSING Seeking Information On These Missing Children Jamal Abdul’Faruq WOW ... What happened to this innocent Child ?? Basil Abdul'Faruq and his brother, Jamal, begged their mother to let them go outside to play. It was spring break, April 16, 1990, and the boys wanted to join other kids in their Richmond, Virginia, neighborhood. Their mother, Tambar Ellis, was tired after working the night shift at the nearby DuPont factory. She didn't worry about Basil, 8, and Jamal, 7, playing outside. They walked to school on their own every day. "Jamal was the one who asked could they go out," Ellis said. "I said, 'of course.' " It was the last time she would see her children. She said she took a short nap, about 30 minutes. Then she walked outside to call the boys in for dinner. "I called them, and I didn't get a response," she said. She searched the grounds surrounding the 600-unit apartment complex and then a playground about a block away. As the minutes passed, she started to panic. "After about maybe four or five minutes of looking for your kids, you go through a wave of a different emotions," Ellis said. "You know they're not up in someone's house, because they knew I wouldn't have allowed it. ... I couldn't believe they weren't within hearing distance." Ellis continued to call out to her sons for nearly 45 minutes. She checked a convenience store at the front of the complex. They weren't there. Ellis called the police. Search dogs, law enforcement officers and volunteers canvassed the neighborhood. Helicopters surveyed the area from above. "I was in the Army Reserves at the time," Ellis said, "so a lot of soldiers were looking from my reserve unit." The search continued into the night, and the following day and the day after that. On the third day, Ellis and the boys' father, Everett Abdul'Faruq received devastating news. The body of their oldest son, Basil, was found 10 miles from home in a Chesterfield landfill. A truck driver noticed the body protruding from a torn plastic garbage bag. The boy's mouth had been gagged and his body bound with duct tape, said Detective Johnny Capocelli of the Chesterfield Police Department. He'd been stabbed twice in the back, and his skull was fractured. "I never saw my son's body," Ellis said. "They recommended that I not see his body." The medical examiner determined that the stab wounds killed Basil. The skull fracture occurred after he died, an autopsy showed. "It started off as a missing persons case with us," said Richmond Police Detective James P. Baynes, "and then became Chesterfield's murder case." Although Basil's death was ruled a homicide, police were left without a suspect and without any clues leading to Jamal. "After they found Basil, they spent at least a day going through all of the rest of the trash in that dump, poking the bags," Baynes said. Investigators identified the truck that carried Basil's body to the dump, but the lead went nowhere. "You're talking about 90 possible Dumpsters," Baynes said. As with most missing child cases, investigators turned their attention to the boys' parents. They seized duct tape and other evidence from Abdul'Faruq's home. But both parents were eventually cleared. "They've been very cooperative from the very beginning," Capocelli said. He declined to identify what, if any, additional evidence was collected in the murder investigation. DNA testing wasn't readily available at the time Basil's body was found and Jamal vanished. Now, he says, law enforcement has access to a DNA database that could prove helpful. "Our state lab has agreed to look at the duct tape that was found on [Basil]," Baynes said. "They're going to test it to see if they can find something they couldn't find when the boys went missing, anything that is separate from Basil's DNA." Investigators are hopeful the DNA tests will lead to answers. They also are eager for credible tips. "We got two tips saying Jamal was alive and he was living in Hinesville, Georgia," Baynes said. The P.E.A.S.
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anonymous tips, received in June, came after the boys' story aired on "America's Most Wanted." The broadcast featured an age-enhanced photo showing what Jamal might look like at 26 years old. "Someone saw a person in Wal-Mart that looked like the enhanced photo they had seen on TV," said Maj. Thomas Cribbs of the Hinesville police. Detectives reviewed the Wal-Mart surveillance tapes but were unable to substantiate the caller's identity. "There wasn't anyone we could connect with," Cribbs said. "We had nobody to go back and talk to, to ask them, 'Where did you see this person? What can you tell me?' " Capocelli believes that Jamal may still be alive. Baynes agrees. "I think there's a strong possibility that Jamal's alive, and I think we will find the person who's responsible," Baynes said. Ellis holds out hope every day that her son will be found. "You hear of Jaycee Dugard," she said. referring to the California woman who was abducted at age 11 and found alive last year, 18 years later. "Anything is possible. I don't give up," she added. "I had my theory about why one [boy] was found ... that Basil was trying to protect him," Ellis said. "They were protective of each other." "Detective Baynes has been working countless days and nights," Capocelli said. "I can tell you from all my years of cold cases, this is never going to be one that sits on the shelf and gathers dust." When he disappeared, Jamal was 4 feet tall and weighed 47 pounds. He was wearing a black Batman T-shirt, jeans and white sneakers. If you have any information on this case please call The Richmond City Police Department (Virginia) - Missing Persons Unit 1-804-646-5100
Olisa Williams Olisa Williams was 1 year old when her father took her to an Ann Arbor park in 1982. He said he fell asleep and awoke to find his daughter gone. The Ann Arbor Police Department never believed that version of the story. According to the police report, Denise Williams told her attorney, Molly Reno, that Isiah Williams entered her residence in Cincinnati in May 1982, knocked her down and took their baby. The report then inexplicably notes that both Isiah and Denise Williams moved to Ann Arbor. In court, Isiah told a judge the last time he saw Olisa was in June 1982. He admitted he had been smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol while driving around with Olisa. Isiah said he parked his car at Island Park and fell asleep. He said he woke and discovered the car door open and Olisa gone. "We didn't believe him. We felt either he gave the baby to another family member to be raised or the child was deceased. I think that was the belief of most everybody." Isiah said in court that he didn't report the abduction to police because he thought his wife or one of her relatives had taken the child. Reno told police Isiah had called his wife on numerous occasions with different versions of what happened. Among the stories: He lost the baby, killed the baby, she died at the hospital, and "the child was across the water." Retired Ann Arbor Police Detective Mary Smith, who was involved in the case, said officers searched the Huron River looking for Olisa. "We didn't believe him," Smith said recently. "We felt either he gave the baby to another family member to be raised or the child was deceased. I think that was the belief of most everybody." Isiah was brought before a judge for violating a restraining order and said he would only reveal what happened to Olisa if the case against him was dismissed. The judge refused and threatened to put Isiah in jail if he didn't cooperate. That's when Isiah told the story of falling asleep and waking with Olisa nowhere in sight. "The baby is missing, but there was no evidence (Isiah) was involved in the disappearance of the baby," Ann Arbor Police Lt. Mike Logghe said Tuesday. "He wasn't arrested because we couldn't prove he was not telling the truth." Nance said Denise Williams called his agency in March 1985, making it one of the first cases for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The center didn't officially start until a year later. Denise Williams' last contact with the agency was in 1992, when a case worker called her to ask if there were any updates. Denise stopped responding to letters after that, and Nance said he hasn't been able to locate either parent since. The Ann Arbor News was also unable to locate Olisa's parents. Nance said the case will remain open until it's solved. If you have any information on this case please call The Ann Arbor Police Department (Michigan) 1-734-794-6911 P.E.A.S.
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From the late Steptoe 1950-1989 comes a characteristi-
JUMPING MOUSE in 1985 and MUFARO'S BEAUTIFUL
cally warm slice-of-life tale that also serves up a lesson
DAUGHTERS in 1988. Mr. Steptoe twice received the
or two about friendship and ethnic pride. When Charles's teacher explains that Hector, the new boy, is from Puerto Rico, Charles, an African American, is star-
Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration, for MOTHER CROCODILE (text by Rosa Guy) in 1982, and for MUFARO'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS in 1988.
tled: "How could that guy be from Puerto Rico? He was the same color as me, and I'm not from Puerto Rico." The teacher supplies a few answers to that question, which becomes increasingly less important as Charles and Hector strike up a friendship. There's not a great deal to this plot: an excited Charles tells his parents his plans for "teachin' [Hector] how to speak good English," and when Charles's mother laughs, Charles's father declares that he is simply "bein' creative with his language"; "creative," after a few explanations, becomes the term Charles uses to cement his bond with Hector. The characters here emerge bigger than the story, lifelike and immensely likable. Lewis Big Boy does them justice by not romanticizing anyone: the kids in the class, for example, pay attention to the teacher but their faces show a recognizable reserve. Instead, the artist relays the characters' affection through wellchosen compositions, placing his figures in natural but intimate relation to one another. All told, a book with heart. Ages 6-10. In his twenty-year career, Mr. Steptoe illustrated sixteen picture books, twelve of which he also wrote. The American Library Association named two of his books Caldecott Honor Books, a prestigious award for children's book illustration: THE STORY OF
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While all of Mr. Steptoe's work deals with aspects of the African American experience, MUFARO'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS was acknowledged by reviewers and critics as a breakthrough. Based on an African tale recorded in the 19th century, it required Mr. Steptoe for the first time to research African history and culture, awakening his pride in his African ancestry. Mr. Steptoe hoped that his books would lead children, especially African American children, to feel pride in their origins and in who they are. "I am not an exception to the rule among my race of people," he said, accepting the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Illustration, "I am the rule. By that I mean there are a great many others like me where I come from." Mr. Steptoe frequently spoke to audiences of children and adults about his work. He was the 1989 winner of the Milner Award, voted by Atlanta schoolchildren for their favorite author. John Steptoe died on August 28, 1989 at Saint Luke's Hospital in Manhattan, following a long illness. He was 38 years old and lived in Brooklyn. Mr. Steptoe was among the handful of African American artists who have made a career in children's books.
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Gathered Dreamz
"We don't just reach for the stars, we grab them..."
Two socially aware community activists, Dana Barfielde and Tiffany Robinson, founded Gathered Dreamz, Inc, a nonprofit organization, in 2011 in Philadelphia, Pa. Barfielde and Robinson were brought together by a common belief that many youth, particularly foster children, in their community lacked meaningful academic, social and career guidance. Determined to make a difference, Barfielde and Robinson conducted several research studies pertaining to the overall care of girls and young women in foster care ages 6-21. It has been proven time and time again that this population has the difficulties that children in the same age group don’t face. In particular, young women ages 15-21 need assistance as they prepare to age out and age out of foster care. Research has proven that there is a gap in services for these young women. With this information in hand, Barfielde and Robinson decided it was time to make a change; a change that would impact the rest of these girls and young women’s lives. With the backing of other prominent youth–serving organizations in the city of Philadelphia, Gathered Dreamz, Inc has become a valuable resource to the community. In addition, Gathered Dreamz has forged strong partnerships with the local business community, media, and the School District of Philadelphia. P.E.A.S.
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Providing supportive services to girls and young women ages 6-21 who are currently in foster care system and those aging out of foster care. The mission of Gathered Dreamz, Inc is to empower girls and young women in and aging out of foster care to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their personal potential. Gathered Dreamz, Inc envisions a community in which every girl and young woman in foster care can experience nurturing one-toone relationships and community support, which in turn allows each of them to develop into their full potential, capable of making informed, responsible decisions as involved members of our community. We are an organization providing supportive services to girls and young women ages 6-21 who are currently in foster care system and those aging out of foster care. For more information/support please visit: www.gathered-dreamz.org
MISSING Seeking Information On Missing Children
Alexis Patterson A high-profile cold case in Milwaukee .... Alexis Patterson went missing May 3, 2002 at the age of 7 years old. Her stepfather, LaRon Bourgeois, told police that he and Alexis walked the halfblock from their school to Hi-Mount on W. Garfield Ave. and that he last saw her crossing the street toward the school. She never attended classes that day and was seen by some classmates crying in the playground. LaRon was questioned but never was connected to her disappearance. Later LaRon Bourgeois failed a Polygraph test on a unrelated case. An Anonymous caller contacted a Milwaukee Radio Station August of 2002 claiming her remains could be found dumped in a Milwaukee River. Dive teams searched and nothing was found. At the time of her disappearance Alexis was wearing a red hooded jacket with gray stripes, a purple shirt, blue jeans, and white Nike tennis shoes. She has a scar under her right eye and bump on her left pinky finger. If you have in information on this case please call Milwaukee Police Department (Wisconsin) 1-414-935-7401
Empowering Girls & Young Women The Women Empowering Girls Network™
(WEGN) exists to increase the capacity of women to effectively impact the lives of the girls and young women they serve. WEGN provides quality and affordable training, coaching, strategies and resources that allow our members to LAUNCH and GROW their girl-specific business successfully.
MONTHLY TREAT Pat Holmes WILD RICE AND CHICKEN CASSEROLE (Use 9x13 pan) 1 package Uncle Ben’s original wild rice, cooked 2 cups cook and diced chicken ¾ - 1 cup may 1 can cream of celery soup 2 cans of green beans (15 oz.) drained. Mix together all ingredients Bake 350 1 hour P.E.A.S.
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Our Goal Is To Educate Our Young Women To Succeed!!! Rashan Ali Smith dreds of girls from the metro Atlanta area. sportygirlsinc.org Camp Elite Application Period Opens! Do you know a girl between the ages of 10 - 16 who is involved in golf, soccer, swimming or tennis at the competitive level? If you do, the Sporty Tract to Scholarship Initiative may be the program for her! The Sporty Tract to Scholarship Initiative includes the Camp Elite and Sporty Saturday programs and is designed to develop and foster lifestyle skills and build self-confidence among student athletes. Athletes who are selected for the Sporty Tract to Scholarship Initiative are invited to participate in the Camp
In 2006, local radio personality Rashan Ali Smith founded Sporty Girls Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia to provide young minority girls the opportunity to participate in non traditional sports – those offered in metro Atlanta public schools but not traditionally played by minority girls. A life-long competitive swimmer and recipient of a four-year swimming scholarship at Florida A & M University, Rashan knew that one day she would want that same opportunity for other girls like her. Not only did she want young girls to swim, but also learn to play, soccer, golf and tennis. SGI seeks to serve young girls ages 8 to 18 through two unique and dynamic initiatives: the Sporty Tract to Scholarship and Get Girls Sporty. Our ultimate goal is to expose as many girls as possible to golf, soccer, swimming and tennis, to promote ongoing physical activity and to equip them with the tools they need to make healthy decisions. Through Sporty Girls, Rashan has been afforded the opportunity to introduce young minority girls to an unconventional way to participate in non-traditional sports. Since 2007, Sporty Girls, Inc. has served hun-
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Elite weeklong summer sports camp and the Sporty Saturday Program which begins in the fall. The deadline to apply is March 14, 2014. Please email us at: sportygirlsinc.org@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.
MISSING Seeking Information On Missing Children
Sandra Powell Powell was last seen in her hometown of South Bend, Indiana on March 11, 1987. Powell had been threatened after she testified during a murder trial in 1986. Police are unsure whether her disappearance was related to the trial. She was last seen by a close friend, they went to either the YMCA or a health spa and somehow were separated. According to past police reports, Powell and her friend were in a bedroom the night before she went missing. Powell was on the phone with someone in the bedroom. The friend also told police Powell did not give any indication of running Away. If you know anything about this case please call The South Bend Police Department (Indiana) - 1-574-235-9201
To cultivate, enrich, and challenge young women to participate in golf, soccer, swimming, and tennis while fostering and developing lifestyle skills.
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MISSING Seeking Information On Missing Children
Aleacia Stancil She was born premature and addicted to drugs. By the time she was 9 months old, she had vanished. Unfortunately, when most children are reported missing, "Far and away the
mere hours." according to Officer Will Andersen. The police report shows Aleacia Stancil was only 9 months old when her mother, Toni, says she left her with a friend named Dee. At the time, Toni was spiraling out of control. After she got out of the Air Force, she was arrested for drugs and prostitution. The last time Toni saw her daughter was in December 1994 near 12th Avenue and
Van Buren Street. If you have any information on this statistics are much more grim. case please call The Phoenix Police Department (Arizona) The child has a finite lifetime from the point of abduction, 1-602-262-6151
Helping young readers develop natural gifts and talents “Jack and the Sly Fox,” helps young readers understand the value of developing their natural gifts and talents, and teaches them how to use those hidden treasures to “Attract” success and abundance. The book introduces them to seven special gifts that await their discovery, the Gift of Awareness, Imagination, Creation, Uniqueness, Vision, Voice, and Love. Through this mystical tale, young people learn, chasing money is not the way to attain riches, but the development of their natural gifts and talents is the road to wealth and abundance. In the end, this valuable resource is designed to help children shift the paradigm from the external pursuit of wealth, to the internal development of “Self” a requisite for success, in all aspects of life. Au-
thor, Wes Hall is available for readings, book signings, and assemblies. For many young people this will be their first time meeting an African American male author, and for as many, it will be their first autographed book. Bring Mr. Hall to your campus, you will be happy you did. For a copy of Jack and the Sly Fox , also tune in weekly radio show: Latalkradio With Wes Hall
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MISSING Rilya Alert Criteria
Seeking Information On Missing Children
•The abduction is of a child age 17 years or younger
Kynande Bennett
Tasha
4-year-old Kynande's was last saw at a
arrested
•The parent must
29, 2002 in Whiteville, North Carolina.
have contacted
Tasha and Kynande lived in Conway,
law enforcement
South Carolina, but were in Whiteville
to report child missing. •A RILYA Alert may also be issued if the child is classified as a runaway by the police. If the parent has reported missing child and has convincing evidence that child does not have a history of running away, an alert will be initiated within the 1st hour. We recognize that at times, not
K-Mart store at 5:00pm on September
visiting Kynande's uncle that day. At first, Tasha claimed her daughter disappeared in one of the aisles at the store, but later changed her story, saying she walked into the store and thought Kynande was behind her, but when she turned around, Kynande was gone. No one remembered seeing Kynande in KMart that day and video surveillance images of K-Mart don't show any images of Kynande either.
all information is readily available (ie. license plate numbers, name of abductor, or witness
Police claimed that Tasha and Kynan-
to abduction. In such cases, the available
de's father, Eddie Kevin Bennett Jr.
information will be reviewed and verified prior to RILYA Alert.
were being uncooperative in the investigation of their daughter's disappearance and that there were inconsisten-
•The law-enforcement agency believes the
cies in their stories. On the day of Ky-
child is in imminent danger of serious bodily
nande's disappearance, her grandma
injury or death.
told the Conway Police Department that
•All children of color meeting the criteria for
abused, but her parents deny the alle-
she suspected Kynande was being
the Amber Alert will also receive the RILYA
gations. Kevin has denied claims he
Alert If these criteria are met, alert infor-
refused to help out in the investigation,
mation is assembled for public distribution.
but admitted he refused to take a poly-
This information may include descriptions
graph. Tasha took a polygraph, but
and pictures of the missing child, the suspected abductor, and a suspected vehicle along with any other information available and valuable to identifying the child and sus-
failed it and Kevin claims the police are biased against them because of their race. Kynande's parents were considered suspects in her disappearance.
pect.
Police got a search warrant on Kynan-
*The staff at Peas In Their Pods respectfully
de's house & her family's vehicles. They
requests that once a child is found that any organization posting information remove their pictures from their sites.
took blood and saliva samples from both Tasha and Kevin. The police claim the house had been santized with bleach, but found transfer stains that matched Kynande's DNA. Kevin and
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were in February of 2003, charged with homicide by child abuse in connection of their daughter's case. Investigators have DNA evidence that proves Kynande died in Conway and never went to Whiteville on September 29, 2002. The charges against Kevin were dropped in October 2005 due to lack of evidence, but additional charges of unlawful neglect of a child and inflicting great bodily harm on a child were added to Tasha's indictment in December of 2005. Tasha maintains her innocence and testified in her own defense, claiming she never hurt her daughter. Prosecutors believe that Tasha abused Kynande and caused her daughter's death unintentionally, then she panicked afterwards and attempted to cover up the crime. Tasha was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February of 2006. Kynande still remains missing. Foul play is considered in Kynande's case due to the circumstances involved. Kynande has pierced ears and a birthmark on her right arm. When Kynande was last seen, she had braids in her hair and was wearing a grey "FUBU" shirt and blue jeans. If anyone has information on this case please call The Conway Police Department (South Carolina) 1-843-248-1790
Peas In Their Pods
children are our first priority www.peasintheirpods.com
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