November 02, 2004

Community groups receive new computers

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Four non-profit community organizations in the Metro East area recently received new computers thanks to local teens who participated in a leadership weekend at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The teens built brand new computers during the second Paul Simon Leadership Conference last month at SIUC's Touch of Nature Environmental Center. The four organizations received the computers Oct. 11 at East St. Louis Community College Center.

SIUC's Public Policy Institute sponsors the leadership program.

As part of the hands-on activities that combined leadership, development and career information, Missy Dunn, an information technology support specialist at Shawnee Community College in Ullin and other staff, helped teams build new personal computers. Each team then nominated and voted for a non-profit community organization to receive the computer they built.

The four community-based organizations that received computers were:

  • Holy Angels Women's and Children's Sojourn, 771 Vogel Place, East St. Louis; director, Pat Lewis. Sponsored by Catholic Urban Programs.
  • The Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) of East St. Louis. Facilitator is the Rev. Harold Lowery. An HIV-prevention program for teens, the program trains teens to become peer counselors to talk about HIV prevention and safety. Sponsored by the East Side Health District.
  • O'Fallon Outreach Center. Director is Joyce Wills. Provides tutoring, lunch programs and support for less fortunate children in the O'Fallon area.
  • East St. Louis Father's Center. Program director is the Rev. Phoenix Barnes. Provides parental counseling, training and support for young men.

Among the fraternal and community-based groups in the Metro East area participating in the weekend were Alpha Phi Alpha,

Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi fraternities; the Top Ladies of Distinction Inc.; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Charter School, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center, and the East St. Louis Community College Center, all in East St. Louis.

Serving others and expanding outreach efforts are among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.

(CAPTION: Happy Gathering – Community leaders from throughout the Metro East area and Southern Illinois University Carbondale gathered at the East St. Louis Community College Center to present computers to four non-profit community organizations and two area high school students. The computers were built by teens during the second Paul Simon Leadership Conference in September at SIUC’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center. Gathered for the Oct. 11 presentation are, back row, (left to right): Jaquline Settles, Top Ladies of Distinction; Anthony Rushing, senior, Cahokia High School; SIUC Public Policy Institute Director Mike Lawrence; Bernice Howze, Willis Young, assistant program director at the SIUE East St. Louis Center Charter School; Larry Taylor, director of the East St. Louis Community College Center; Jason Ray, Cedric Mitchell, Linda Renee’ Baker, SIUC/Institute professor and project director; Percy McKinney, chair, SIUE East St. Louis Center Community Advisory Council; Anthony Neal, program director, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Charter School; and Darryl Matthews, a senior at East St. Louis High School. Seated first row, (left to right): the Rev. Phoenix Barnes, program director, East St. Louis Father’s Center; Joyce Wills, director, O’Fallon Outreach Center; Pat Lewis, director, Holy Angels Women’s and Children’s Sojourn, East St. Louis; and the Rev. Harold Lowery, Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) of East St. Louis.)
Photo by Patricia Merritt

(CAPTION: Computer recipients – Leaders of four non-profit community organizations and two high school students received computers built by teens at the second Paul Simon Leadership Conference in September at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center. Receiving computers at an Oct. 11 presentation at East St. Louis Community College Center were: (left to right) Anthony Rushing, senior, Cahokia High School; the Rev. Phoenix Barnes, program director, East St. Louis Father’s Center; Joyce Wills, director, O’Fallon Outreach Center; Pat Lewis, director, Holy Angels Women’s and Children’s Sojourn, East St. Louis; the Rev. Harold Lowery, Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) of East St. Louis; Darryl Matthews, a senior at East St. Louis High School; and SIUC Public Policy Institute Director Mike Lawrence who spoke at the presentation ceremonies.)
Photo by Patricia Merritt

(CAPTION: Importance of Leadership – Mike Lawrence, director of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Public Policy Institute, speaks Oct. 11 during a presentation at East St. Louis Community College Center. Six computers were built and donated to four non-profit community organizations in the Metro East area, and two high school students who participated in the second Paul Simon Leadership Conference in September at SIUC’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center. The two-day event focused on enhancing leadership qualities of African-American men.)
Photo by Patricia Merritt

(CAPTION: Computer gifts – Mike Lawrence, director of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Public Policy Institute, speaks at an Oct. 11 ceremony at East St. Louis Community College Center marking the donation of six computers to four non-profit organizations and two high school students. The computers were built by youths attending the second Paul Simon Leadership Conference at SIUC’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center in September. Pictured are (left to right): the Rev. Harold Lowery, Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) of East St. Louis; Anthony Rushing, senior, Cahokia High School; Darryl Matthews, a senior at East St. Louis High School; and the Rev. Phoenix Barnes, program director, East St. Louis Father’s Center.)