THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL

Friday, February 15, 2013 3B

My Life
LEADERSHIP CLASS
In brief

COMMUNITY NEWS

Learning to appreciate diversity

By John Gaskill
Special to My Life

Valentines dance
Celebrate Valentines Day with a dance at Cordova Family YMCA, 7950 Club Center Cove, 7-9 p.m. Friday. The Jim Mahannah Band will provide musical entertainment. Cost is 5$ per person at the door. Light refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information, call 901-755-2123.

Bridges has been working with young people in Memphis for more than 90 years. Today, with its Bridge Builders program, Bridges inspires thousands of diverse youth from different socioeconomic backgrounds across the Mid-South each year, helping them appreciate differences, strengthen leadership and individuality and encourage them to work for change in their communities. They are empowered to reach across, lead the way and build our community. Yuki Anaba is a senior at White Station High School and has been a Bridge Builder since the summer before her junior year. She had high expectations for the program and she says she has not been disappointed.
How did Bridge Builders transform you?

helped me realize that people are not as different as they may seem at rst. Rather, people have so much in common, and interaction allows people to discover those shared interests and experiences.
What is something you learned about your fellow Bridge Builders that surprised you?

I was surprised to learn that they were just like me. At rst glance, we spanned the spectrum from Caucasian to Latino to African American to Asian except for the Bridge Builders shirts that we wore, we were all unique. But after getting to know each other, we better understood our differences.
What did you learn about yourself that most surprised you?

I would like to speak to Mayor A C Wharton. Memphis is a beautiful city, but, as with all beautiful places, there are some dark corners. I would express my concerns about the fact that there is still evidence of discrimination and racial proling. Theres no silver bullet for such issues, but I believe we can brainstorm step-by-step solutions to change the community for the better in the future.
How are you using the beliefs and values youve learned at Bridge Builders in your daily life?
As a Bridge Builder, White Station High School senior Yuki Anaba says she has learned to respect the opinions of others and to appreciate the complex diversity in our society.

Chapter meeting

It has taught me to respect the opinions of others and to appreciate the complex diversity in our society. Bridge Builders has

In the rope maze activity during senior conference, the key was to ask for help to get out of the maze, but I thought I would feel like a failure if I asked for help. It made me aware of how difficult it can be to ask for something so simple.
If you had the opportunity to address any Memphis leader, who would it be and what would you say to them?

I am condent in my verbal expression, and Im able to clearly communicate my thoughts while accepting the viewpoints of others. Bridge Builders has helped sharpen my critical thinking skills; whenever I encounter an issue, I am determined to resolve the problem positively and effectively.
What change can you and others like you bring about today?

To note the differences among groups of people or between two specic people is merely human. Nevertheless, to have the willingness to look past those differ-

ences, without completely ignoring them, and nding common ground with those individuals is divine. We can spread this message by setting an example for our peers to follow and encouraging others to accept differences in society to work for the benet of all.
John Gaskill oversees communications for Bridges.

The Laureate Omega chapter of Beta Sigma Phis next meeting is Feb. 19, at the home of Nancy Blake of Memphis. The meeting will include the collection of supplies for the Bartlett Humane Shelter, and discussion of the upcoming State Convention in Memphis, and upcoming social/cultural event at the Pink Palace Museum, along with various other business items. For more information, call Chapter president JoEddye Robinson at 901-757-0132. Farmington Presbyterian Church and Day School, 8245 Farmington Blvd., welcomes the Girl Scout Troops of Farmington for a Cookies and Milk party at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. This event is open to the public. Prior to the performance, the church will have its Wednesday night Supper Series offering Gus fried chicken and all of the xings, as well as a separate childrens menu beginning at 5:45 p.m. Dinner is $6 for adults; $3 for children (with a family maximum of $18). Those coming for the meal must reserve a spot by Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. by calling 901754-2794, ext. 21 or e-mail sandy@farmingtonpres. org. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Chapter 1382 meeting will be held at noon Thursday at Old Timers Restaurant in Millington. The guest speaker will be Terry Jones, mayor of Millington. For more information, call Carolyn Cribbis at 901-413-7123. Cordova Shelby Youth Sports Track and Field will be holding signups for the 2013 season at Bert Ferguson Community Center, 8505 Trinity Road, from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 23. New participants must have a copy of their birth certicates. For more information, e-mail syswolves@ yahoo.com. Memphis-based HopeWorks Inc. will host its fth annual Morning of Hope breakfast and fundraising event from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. March 2 at Woodland Hills Event Center, 10000 Woodland Hills Drive. Bill Courtney, former volunteer head football coach of the Manassas High School football team and the subject of the Academy Award-winning documentary Undefeated, will speak. Tickets are $50 each or $500 per table of 10 and may be purchased online by visiting WhyHopeWorks.org or by calling 901-272-3700, ext. 107.

Cookies and milk

COMMUNITY SNAPSHOTS

Derek Clenin (left) and Davis Jacques (right) visited with Tiger basketball coach Josh Pastner (center) during a recent gathering of the University of Memphis Rebounders, the fan support group of the University of Memphis basketball team. The Rebounders met at the Bank of Bartletts Germantown Branch, 7708 Poplar, for a barbecue dinner served by One & Only Barbecue and a 30-minute talk by Coach Pastner.

The Northwest Mississippi Community College Rodeo Committee recently purchased and presented a Perfect Calf tie-down machine to the Northwest Rodeo team. The machine will enable the students to improve their skills for intercollegiate competition throughout the year, including the upcoming Northwest Rodeo, which will be held April 4-6 at the Northwest Farm Arena. The machine was purchased with funds raised from previous annual rodeo events. Present for the presentation were Ben Hamilton, Vicky Wiseman, Brent Gray, and Mike Wiseman, rodeo committee members; Lauren Sanders of Bentonia, rodeo team member; Bud Young, arena manager; Jake Keith of Purvis, rodeo team member; Angela Purdy, committee member; Kindyl Scruggs of Southaven, Michael Crenshaw of Hernando, Racheal Speltz of Nesbit, and Morgan Winters of Hernando, rodeo team members. OneVoice, the a cappella singing group at Briarcrest Christian School, has recently received accolades for its rst full-length album, Another Level. First, Someone Like You, featuring soloist Lauren Mohler and arranged by director J.D. Frizzell, has been chosen by Varsity Vocals for its 2012 Best of High School A Cappella compilation album. Another Level received two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nominations. The CARAs will be awarded in Boston in April.

Fed retirees meet

Track/eld sign-ups

Subsidium Inc., held its Winter Blast social event, Jan. 24 at Salsa Restaurant in Memphis. Part of the festivities was the check presentation made by Subsidium president Cheryl Lombardo (left) to Memphis Oral School for the Deaf executive director Teresa Schwartz and development director Kristi Ransom for the 2013 SpeakEasy Title Sponsorship. Drawing inspiration from the Roaring 20s speakeasy establishments, the event will offer an evening of hors doeuvres from area restaurants, jazz tunes, casino-style entertainment and silent and live auctions providing items such as jewelry, vacation getaways and romantic dining. This years SpeakEasy will be held April 20 at The Great Hall in Germantown. For more information on the upcoming event, visit facebook.com/ events/119591064877174/

Hope breakfast

On National Signing Day, St. Benedict four-star running back Jordan Wilkins (seated, second from right) signed a national letter of intent with the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss-SEC). Joining the signing are parents, Billy (seated, left) and Angie Wilkins; sister Blakley Wilkins; St. Benedict at Auburndale Eagles president George Valadie (standing, left); coach Chris Jordan, SBA defensive coordinator; and SBA head coach Mike David. On Feb. 6, National Signing Day, the Arlington High School football program had four players sign national letters of intent. Star quarterback Drew Reed, who holds every passing record at AHS, signed with Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. Record-setting wide receiver Justin Boring, and standout defensive lineman Daxton Speer, both signed with Mississippi College. Cole Walker, a strong force at tight end, has signed with Tusculum College in Tennessee. Attending the signing ceremony (seated, from left) are Jennifer Boring, mother; Justin Boring; Leslie Reed, mother; Drew Reed, Stacia Speer, mother; Daxton Speer; Anne Walker, mother; Cole Walker; (back row, from left) Jimmy Boring, father; coach Joe Welch; coach Adam Sykes; Jerry Reed, father; coach Jason Curtis; head coach Chris Wiley; coach Robbie Vinson; coach Chuck Boler; Emma Kate Walker, sister; Jason Walker, father.

First Assembly Christian School senior Wesley Campbell signed a national letter of intent on Feb. 6 to play football for Division II CarsonNewman College in East Tennessee. Wesley is the son of Chris (left) and Beth Campbell. He has played football for 10 years, including the last four years at FACS. He plays on both offense and defense. He made all-district his junior year and received honorable mention his senior season. Wesley is a member of the FACS Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society. He aspires to become a football coach.

Mid-South Greyhound Adoption will be at Hollywood Feed, 5070 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, from 1-3 p.m. Real Good Dog Rescue visit Hollywood Feed, 2015 Union, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Blue Sky Dog Rescue will be on site at Hollywood Feed, 2031 S. Germantown Road, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday adoptions

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My Life is lled with reader-submitted photos and stories by folks like you. Share your photos with us, along with details. Digital images can be e-mailed as JPEGs that are 1-2 MB in size. E-mail photos and caption information to: Greater Memphis: keplinger@ commercialappeal.com. Bartlett/Cordova/Millington: mylife@ bartlettappeal.com, mylife@cordovaappeal. com or mylife@millingtontiptonappeal.com. Germantown/Collierville: mylife@ germantownappeal.com or mylife@ colliervilleappeal.com. DeSoto: mylife@desotoappeal.com.