RSVP for the Volunteer Bus!

If you will be joining us to decorate the float next Saturday (details in previous blog entry), then please RSVP to me either by e-mail, comment to this post, or phone. Thanks and have a blessed holiday.

Meeting Change Reminder

If you didn’t receive my letter, please remember that the December 9^th meeting was cancelled and rescheduled for December 12,2007 (Today) at my home. IF you cannot attend please let me know either by e-mail or phone message.

Please remember to bring your Kwanzaa Schedule of Events and please prepare to bring your part before coming to the meeting.

Hope to see you all there!!!

Roses are Red, Top Teens wear Blue …

Calling all Top Teens!!

Teens to decorate Rose Parade Float

On December 22, 2007, we will join Fiesta Parade Floats to help them decorate floats for the 119^th Annual Rose Parade. We will travel to their construction and design facility by bus. Please arrive at Crewshaw United Methodist Church (our usual meeting place) by 9:45 A.M. and the bus will drop us off at 5:00 P.M.

Teen Arrival Time & Bus Departure: 9:45 A.M.

Bus Arrival & Teen Departure Time: 5:00 P.M.

 

Boys Booked on Barbershop

During your Christmas shopping, don’t forget to pick up an extra Children’s book to be donated to our National literacy project. Bring the books to the January meeting, to help us prepare for our next Booked on Barbershop in the New Year.

 

Have a Safe and Enjoyable School Break, Christmas, and New Year

        Love, Lady Cobb and your Top Lady advisors

 

Ariel’s Additions

 

Ariel’s Additions: (Thank you Ariel!!)

Marissa Mayberry:

 

Marissa participated in the SMARTS Summer Program at UCLA, taking Intro. to Java Programming.

 

Sharifa McCauley:

 

Sharifa attended the SMARTS Summer Program at UCLA, taking courses in both Calculus Readiness and Intro. to Java Programming.

 

 

Camille Williams:

 

Ms. Millie applied for jobs in the Temecula area and took a 3 day vacation in Big Bear to beat the heat. She also met up with cousins for a family reunion in L.A.

Zeni Brown:

Zeni worked with children at Crenshaw United Methodist Church and wrote classified ades for a Black-owned newspaper.

Farryn Frierson:

Farryn took a summer school choice in geometry and did well in it. She volunteers at Cedars-Sinai’s on Mondays, working at the front desk of the pediatrics wing. In June, Farryn also attended a fashion workshop in Orange County.

Ariel Joseph:

Madame President attended the SMARTS Summer Program at UCLA, and sharpened her math skills in a Calculus Readiness course.

Julian Leon:

Julian participated in the 6-week Angels for Sight Tennis Camp for Kids as a fitness coach

Ryan Leon:

Ryan worked for 8 weeks as a intern in computer programming at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at UCLA.

Steven Lott:

Steven kept his competitive edge in club swimming, and took a course in Pre-Calculus at UCLA. He was also a consumer connector.

Tell us What you did for the Summer Updates

Teen Brittany Moss (Class of 05),

Brittany crossed the “burning sands” to sport the colors pink and green as a soror of the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. You go girl!!! She worked this summer as an intern for the L.A. County Courthouse in downtown L.A. Now she is off to enjoy her junior year at Bennett College in North Carolina.

Los Angeles Superior Court Internship

Los Angeles County Courthouse Internship

Bennett College

Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.

Teen Johnathan Hall (Class of 05),

Future Corporate Raider Johnathan Hall worked as an intern with Bank of the West in the wealth management department. He got this great opportunity through the INROADS program. He is healing from dental surgery and will be returning to Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia as a Junior.

Bank of the West

INROADS

University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business

Teen Naqeeb Stevens (Class of 06),

Naqeeb completed an internship at the Julia Dean Photography Studio in Venice Beach and took a sociology class at Santa Monica College. In addition, He can be spotted as a promoter for one of the most popular youth party production companies in L.A., Cali Visions. Naqeeb returns to Rutgers in New Jersey as a sophomore.

Julia Dean Photography

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Teen Summer Riberio (Class of 07),

Summer spent her summer working as hostess in the swanky Calender’s Grill restaurant at The Bridge. Now she is travelling with her mother up to San Francisco State University to meet her new roommates and check out the city. We hope you find that IKEA!!

San Francisco State University

Teen Deianna Neal (Class of 07),

Ms. Neal is very excited to be surrounded by the “sisterly love” with her fellow students at Spelman College in Atlanta. Parting ceremonies for the families and the students were very emotional for her and her mother. Deianna has a single room in LLC. (How did a freshman pull that off?). She has met many students from all over California. She looks forward to lunching with Lord and Lady Cobb (Spelman Class of ’80) at the Morehouse Spelman Homecoming 2008.

Spelman College

(Hey, what did you do for the summer??)

Teen Latiesha Austin (Class of 07).

Latiesha recently left for hot and humid weather at Texas Southern University in Houston today. She worked this summer at the H&M clothing store. She is packed and ready to check into the dorms. Good Luck, Latiesha,

Texas Southern University

Teen Bree Frierson (Class of 07),

Bree went to summer school at Cal State Dominguez Hills. She will be moving into the dorms next week and is anxious to meet her new roommate.

California State University, Dominguez Hills

Mitiyiana Thomson (Class of 07),

Mitiyiana interned at the Liner, Yankelevitz, Sunshine and Regenstreif law firm in Westwood. Although she can count herself as one of the lucky Dartmouth freshman to have a single room, Mitiyiana has met many classmates and alumni at summer gatherings. She will leave in September to attend a weekend Pre-Freshman camp to get to know her fellow students even better before school starts.

Dartmouth College

Liner, Yankelevitz, Sunshine and Regenstreif

Teen Khalid Stevens (Class of 08),

Khalid labored in the hot August sun practicing and getting into condition for the fall football season. If you need him, he can be found vacationing with his mom in Las Vegas.

Teen Antoinette Parker (Class of 08),

Antoinette kept busy attending an interesting summer course in public health. She also worked as a dental assistant with with her mentor Dr. (lord) Cobb. She plans on fulfilling her dream to become a dermatologist.

Dermatology

Teen Austin Hutcherson (Class of 09),

Austin spent his summer taking a credit course in US History at Brentwood. He has completed driver’s training and hopes to get a car soon. He is also playing Summer League Basketball.

Brentwood School Summer Session

Teen Jonathan Tate (Class of 09),

Mr. Tate attended summer school and successfully completed Algebra. He earned money by washing cars and performing odd jobs for his favorite senior, Granny. Jonathan also volunteered with the homeless by preparing and passing out lunches. He spent his leisure time swimming with his friends. Now, he is on to his grueling schedule of football practice. Good job on a fun and productive summer, Jonathan!

Teen T’yoni Reed (Class of 09),

The vivacious T’yoni Reed passed her two courses of Chemistry at Gardena High School. She is looking forward to junior year and is aware of the many decisions will have to make. She will start driver’s education in September. T’yoni said you would most likely find her “skating and chatting up the fella’s” at her local rink.

Teen Nicole Washington (Class of 09),

Nicole participated in Junior Lifeguard Program at Venice Beach. She learned valuable life saving skills such as CPR. Nicole hopes to go on vacation during the last week in August, but for now she is just relaxing and giving her plants some much needed attention. Nicole has high hopes for an exciting junior year!!

Venice Junior Lifeguard Program

Teen Mariah Young (Class of 09),

Mariah also joined Teen Nicole in Venice Beach at the Junior Lifeguard Program. She also vacationed in Alaska and Florida this summer, talk about a globetrotter!

Teen Daniel Smyth (Class of 10),

Daniel explored his interest in photography by taking a summer course in the subject at Crossroads. He ventured to Magic Mountain with cousins and looks forward to relaxing by the pool in Las Vegas.

Crossroads Summer Program

Teen Antonio Brown (Class of 10)

Antonio worked hard at Ladera Park (off of Slauson), and was proud to have artwork on display at the Natural History Museum. He has decided to pursue a career interest in architecture, and is contacting local colleges and universities to find out more information.

Teen Jeridan Tate (Class of 11),

The younger Mr. Tate spent his summer working and helping his grandmother. He volunteered along with his brother feeding the homeless. He did an excellent job of introducing and honoring his father at the NAACP Youth Council’s annual Men of Valor Awards.

Teen Ashley Royston (Class of 11),

Ashley was busy attending learning successful business skills. She recently graduated from the Academic Business Leadership Program, where she met many new friends from throughout L.A. County and learned valuable new skills. Ashley looks forward to starting the year at a new school, Culver City High School. She has also kept busy playing one of her favorite games, volleyball.

Academic Business Leadership Program

Potential Career Opportunity

Teens and students, have you ever considered a career in the Coast Guard? Check out this post from Peter A. Stinson at the Unofficial Coast Guard Blog  about a special program for underrepresented students.

“One of the best kept secrets in the Coast Guard is the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI). While the other services all have Reserve Officer Training Candidate programs (with the Marine Corps using the Navy’s ROTC program), the Coast Guard has long relied on officer candidates to come to the Coast Guard with their degrees in hand. The CSPI program (pronounced Sea-Spy), provides an opportunity for college students to enlist in the Coast Guard and receive two years of Coast Guard paid education. That’s right: be a college student, enlist and pick up pay and benefits as an active duty military members, and also have the CSPI program pay your tuition.”

Click Here to Visit the CSPI website

This sounds like a great opportunity for anyone considering a career as an officer. I encourage you all to look up more information about career opportunities in the Coast Guard and consider this program if it seems interesting.

Tell Us What You Did for the Summer

Hey Teens, I asked your President Ariel and Ryan to call everyone and find out their summer activities, but they didn’t answer my calls. So I am posting on here for you all to tell me about your summer activities. You can leave a comment here on the blog or email it to me at gogidget@sbcglobal.net.

If you are not a Top Teen, and you still did an activity this summer, whether it was a summer job, an internship, credit classes, or travelled, I want to here about it. Thanks and see you at the Angel City Classic!

White House Internship

In Mass E-mail from Deacon John Wilson of West Angeles:

White House Commission on Remembrance Internship
Employer: White House Commission on Remembrance
Stipend Amount: Varies

Click Here to visit the Website

Description
The White House Commission on Remembrance Internship
is open to students who are interested in learning
about and serving in, through first-hand
participation, government service. Internship duties
range from administrative work in the office to
special projects outside of the office, such as
meetings with Congressmen and Senators, organizing and
holding remembrance tributes, and implementing
innovative ideas to market the Commission and its
message of “Live honoring America’s fallen.” In
addition to the application, you must submit a current
resume and a one page statement of intent (cover
letter). This internship is located in Washington,
D.C.

Additional Information
White there are no set application deadlines, the
Commission does follow a schedule of acceptance. To
participate in a spring internship, you must submit
your application by December 1 of the previous
calendar year. To participate in a summer internship,
you must submit your application by May 1 of the year
you wish to work. To participate in a fall internship,
you must submit your application by August 1 of the
year you wish to work. Please visit the sponsor’s Web
site for additional information.

Angel City Classic is coming to LA!!

Your staff advisors are working to put together an exciting Top Teens trip to the Angel City Classic football game on Saturday, September 8^th. The game features North Carolina A&T versus Prairie View A&M (alma mater of your proud former President Lady Merelean Wilson and Lady Dorothy Scranton).

I negociated with the offices of Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, and we were able to secure a bus for all of you to attend the game, and some sponsers of the event are even donating money to offset the cost of tickets! So I hope all of you will plan to join us next month in support of our Historically Black Colleges and Universities and revel in the fun of the Angel City Classic!

Shakey’s Pizza Update

Top Teens and their families had a good time eating pizza and wearing M&M or Skittles lei (Kudos to Lady Mae for those candy lei). We made $577.00 in sales and we will receive a check for $133.00 to be added to the Top Teen Fund. If you were able to attend the Pizza Party, you will receive your award this September at the first meeting on the ninth. On behalf of your Advisory staff, I want to wish all of you a happy, fun filled and successful summer. Remember to take time to review the goals that you established earlier this year and make the appropriate adjustments in order to achieve them.

Soon, many of you will be undergoing the college entrance process; you should be thinking about how you are going to stand out from all the other applicants, and what you will write for your application essays. Refer back to the College checklist packet included in your binders. Do something this summer that will distinguish
you from all the rest of the applicants, but also make sure it is also
something you enjoy . For example, start a reading club for kids if you enjoy working with youth or volunteer with a community sports team if you enjoy athletics. Teens, you are already tops in providing service to your community and I know this will not be a problem for you this summer.

Are you ready Sharifa?

Are you ready Jonathan?

Seniors, Good Luck and stay in touch!