Elton Hayes
Throat cancer forced Claudia Williams to leave her housekeeping job at the Greater Southeast Nursing Home. Her doctor told her the chemicals she used to clean rooms would exacerbate her condition.
Five years has elapsed and she still hasn't returned to work. While the paychecks have stopped, her bills haven't. Fortunately, Williams and countless others who find themselves in her predicament don't have to worry about food, thanks to McKinley Crudup and his church, that ensure thousands of area residents' refrigerators and pantries aren't bare even through the toughest of times.
"Hunger is real. I'm here every day, and I see it. We have grandparents who have to take care of their grandchildren and parents who have lost their jobs," said Crudup, 85, the McKinley Crudup Outreach Center's founder and executive director. "It's not only the ones who have been on food stamps for a long time, but the middle class are losing their jobs and struggling too. They are the ones who are coming to us for help as well."
The second and fourth Wednesday of the month, and every Friday, hundreds of people make their way to the McKinley Crudup Outreach Center – located a stone's throw away from Allen Chapel AME Church in Southeast – to stock up on an assortment of meats, vegetables and canned goods.
Fresh produce days are a crowd favorite. The first, third and fifth Wednesday of each month, the church's parking lot doubles as a farmers' market with tables brimming over with collard greens, succulent yellow squash, sweet potatoes, juicy cucumbers and containers of mixed salad. Long lines begin to form well before dawn as shoppers wait patiently to sign-in at the center before they can fill their baskets, boxes and carts with seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Crudup knows how it feels to go without. Raised in Wilson, N.C., by his grandmother, he vividly recalls the many nights he went to sleep with nothing on his stomach but a salt sandwich.
"I was raised by a poor family and I know what it's like to be hungry," he said. "I went hungry so many times that I said that if I ever get the opportunity, I would take care of as many people as I could."
Others have followed his lead.
Mary Close is a home healthcare aide and while she frequents the center, she shares most of her food with her patients.
"I love it. Everything is fresh," said the 65-year-old Southeast resident. "[My patients] always like the collard greens. I season them with turkey butts and onions."
Although Crudup provides those in need with food, the sad reality remains that the number of people in the region who suffer from hunger has become increasingly worse each year.
According to a 2011 U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] report, 12.6 percent of households in the District suffer from a shortage of food. Even worse, among the 12.6 percent of homes, individuals in 4.4 percent of those households frequently skip meals due to the lack of food.
"We have the highest poverty rate, probably, of any city, of any county, of any state in America," said Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry, 76. "That's what is causing all of these problems."
The center offers more than just food.
Monthly nutrition classes are taught by a certified nutritionist who imparts the benefits of healthy eating. For the holidays, a Thanksgiving basket filled with a fresh turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes, is given to those who attend at least three classes.
While the McKinley Crudup Outreach Center – which partners with the Capital Area Food Bank in Northeast – is in its sixth year of operation, Crudup, a retired D.C. employee, has been a member of Allen Chapel AME for 48 years. Hunger cannot be completely eradicated, but Crudup, a charismatic fellow with an infectious laugh, continues to do his level best to make sure that people have food on their tables.
"I think that it's a blessing for everyone and we all should be thankful for all that they do," said Williams, 62, who lives in Southeast. "It's a big help to the young, middle aged and older people alike."
"Everyone there treats me so well. They help me whenever I run out of food and get me through the month," said Williams. "Mr. Crudup is a very nice man. He's kind and understanding and he does so many wonderful things," she said with a smile.
Joseph Young contributed to this report.
Duke Ellington Student Wins National Essay Contest
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 22:33 Published in LocalDuke Ellington School of the Arts junior Maya Wesby doesn't have much free time these days. The 16 year old serves as a high school drama critic, international youth leadership advocate and she recently penned an award-winning essay on childhood obesity.
Maya's essay, Defeating the Barriers of Physical Activity, earned first place honors out of more than 200 nationwide submissions in the 2012 Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Essay Contest. Although Maya doesn't battle with childhood obesity, she didn't have to look far to find her source of inspiration.
"When I was very young, my classmates would tease this particular girl in my class," said Maya, an honors student. "It wasn't specifically because she was overweight, but her weight made her an easy target for them. I just wanted to speak for kids like her."
The Congressional Black Caucus honored Maya during its 42nd Annual Legislative Conference in September. Along with accolades, Maya received a $1,500 check and a laptop computer.
She had the opportunity to discuss her essay during one of the panel's issue forums. Maya addressed a number of obstacles mentioned in her essay that young people are faced with that prevent them from leading active, healthy lifestyles. Before a panel of well-respected nutritionists, Maya talked about the pressing need for reducing fees for sports camps, making physical activity a habit during teen years and eliminating socioeconomic barriers to fitness facilities.
"I was particularly impressed with Maya's fresh ideas, expressed in her carefully researched and well-written essay on childhood obesity," said D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), 75. "Maya is already showing she is fully ready to think through tough issues and even advise members of Congress on ways to grapple with them."
Despite the recent recognition that Maya has enjoyed because of her essay, the theatre major said that a career in creative writing or nutrition isn't necessarily in her future.
"I am more interested in social work," said Maya, who lists Swarthmore College and the University of Pennsylvania among the schools that have piqued her interest. "I'd like to [study] law, social sciences or discover more about history."
Maya's father, Keith Wesby, said that his daughter showed an interest in reading and writing at an early age and that her passion for the two remains just as strong today. While he and her mother, Adrianne Todman, are no longer together, he said that blueprint for academic success that the two charted for Maya has instilled in her a zest for knowledge and a love of learning.
"We're very proud of her and have tried to lead by example," said Wesby, who lives in Northwest. "We pushed education at home to a great extent. She grew up with both of her parents reading to her and helping her with her homework. That particular family structure has been imperative to her educational and social development. These are the fruits of that labor, and we are very proud of her."
Congress Heights Recreation Center Gets Makeover
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 03:16 Published in Local
DCBIA, Volunteers Renovate Southeast Center
Ayana Bias recalled the pony rides, the basketball courts and the grassy open fields where she and others watched movies on the Silver Screen as children. She didn't have to think too long to quickly rattle off a list of nearly 20 years' worth of memories that she still holds dear. She flashed a wide smile as she reminisced about her time spent at a special Southeast recreation center.
Although she no longer calls the District home, Bias joined hundreds of volunteers who rolled up their sleeves on Saturday, Sept. 29 to spruce up the Congress Heights Recreation Center.
"I'm definitely glad to see that it's starting to come back around," said Bias, 30, who now lives in Ft. Washington, Md. "I think it's very important for us to get involved, beautify our community and unite with one another to really make a difference. A lot of people think that this is just a community recreation center, but it's so much bigger than that."
Since 1992, the D.C. Building Industry Association [DCBIA] has teamed with regional architecture, landscape and construction companies to give parks, schools and recreation centers curb appeal and so much more. Last weekend's event was no different during DCBIA's 20th annual Community Improvement Day. Volunteers arrived at the center's gates at the crack of dawn to provide a place for sports activities and a safe and beautiful haven for children to play.
DCBIA Executive Vice President Gail Edwards said a record-high 700 volunteers registered for the event, and by 9 a.m., more than 300 had already arrived – ready to work. For Edwards, the commitment and dedication of volunteers and DCBIA partners makes it all worthwhile.
"To me, it's incredible that all of our members are so supportive in coming out to do this," said Edwards, who lives in Northern Virginia. "They do it year after year and we couldn't do it without all of them. There are professional people here today trimming bushes and cleaning up. They're all dedicated people and we're very lucky to have them," she said with a smile.
The recreation center's grounds resembled a small construction site as the loud sounds of heavy construction equipment such as mini excavators blended with the screeching whirls of concrete-cutting saws that pierced the cool morning air, and the distinct smell of fresh-cut grass, wood and mulch lingered for most of the day. Volunteer toted gravel in wheel barrels, spread and raked more than 150 yards of fresh mulch and cleared the overgrown shrubs and foliage.
Renovation efforts also included improvements to existing structures. The recreation center's main facility, which is also one of the smallest in the city, received a much-needed facelift which included a paint job and a brand new mural.
Antoine Dotson gave up his Saturday to beautify his neighborhood. He spent the day planting daffodil bulbs, and an assortment of shrubs throughout the grounds.
"I live in the community and want to see it reinvent itself from the stereotype of what it used to be," said Dotson, 40, a human resources manager who works in the District. "It means a lot for the kids to have a safe place to come to after school."
Sixteen years ago, Michel Norton, 37, participated in his first DCBIA Community Improvement Day, ironically at the Congress Heights Recreation Center. Norton, whose company Norton Land Design, played a large role in this year's renovation project. Much has changed, he said, since 1996.
"The designs, contractors and whole game have been raised," said Norton, who lives in Ellicott City, Md. "It started out with us just planting and painting a building. Now, it's full-site design, providing an experience for the community with complete revitalization of a park. Every year it's grown – it's just an amazing event."
Lorenzo Simms, a basketball coach for the Academy of Maryland in Silver Spring, Md., showed up with six of his young players ages 12-14, to help out with the daylong project. While the members of his team live in White Oak, Md., Simms, 24, wanted them to learn the importance of community service.
"To come out, and to be able to help out another recreation center, is what I wanted my kids to volunteer to do. This is great," said Simms, who also lives in Silver Spring, Md. "There are African Americans, Asians and Caucasians who are all chipping in together. This is beautiful and a lovely thing to see and the kids love it. In two weeks, I want to bring them back here to see what they accomplished with their hard work."
AT&T Initiative Aims to Combat Texting While Driving
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 01:04 Published in Local
In the past, traffic officials have urged drivers not to drink and drive. Today, they're cautioning young drivers not to text and drive.
In 2010, distracted driving – which includes texting while driving – claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people nationally and transportation and other officials say those numbers are likely to increase as the number of cellphones people own recently surpassed the population of the United States – at 311 million. As a result, officials are ramping up awareness efforts.
"The one thing that I can visibly see is [the connection between deaths and injuries] and texting and driving," said AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson. "We've made [texting] so natural to kids that they don't even think about it. Let's start with raising awareness to young kids right now."
Stephenson, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, George Washington University [GWU] President Steven Knapp and author, actor and activist Hill Harper joined local, national and regional transportation officials to commemorate No Text on Board Pledge Day at GWU in Northwest on Sept. 19.
The event ran in conjunction with the university's eighth annual Safety Expo, and attracted a large crowd of students, faculty members and District residents. University Yard served as a backdrop for a safety festival as representatives from D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a host of other safety agencies set up shop on the grounds.
Armed with Apple iPad tablets, AT&T employees moved through the crowd which numbered in the hundreds and collected signatures for the company's No Text on Board pledge which is part of the company's It Can Wait initiative that was launched three years ago.
"Three-and-a-half years ago, when we started this campaign [at] the Distracted Driving Summit right here in Washington, nobody was talking about distracted driving. Nobody was paying attention to it," said LaHood. "Only 18 states had passed laws [against distracted driving]. Today, 39 states have passed laws. People now understand that distracted driving is a serious, serious way to cause accidents and injuries."
While distracted driving remained the primary focus of the event, there are a number of other factors that determine motorists' safety. Marion Flythe, 46, trekked a few blocks over to the Safety Expo from her office on campus. Although she said she doesn't text while driving, Flythe learned the proper way to extinguish a fire by participating in one of the many interactive demonstrations.
A controlled fire quickly became a crowd favorite as a long line of people waited for the opportunity to extinguish the live fire. A small orange flame roared from a four-foot stove-like surface and the distinct smell of kerosene permeated the air. Participants grabbed a silver fire extinguisher and took turns putting the fire out under the supervision and with guidance from three safety officials.
"I've never had experience using a fire extinguisher even though I have them in my home," said the Suitland, Md. resident. "I learned that you are to remove the pin from the extinguisher, aim at the base of the fire and make sure that you're at least 15 feet away from the fire and spray from side to side. It was a good experience."
Brian Dito, 25, stumbled around for a few minutes while donning a pair of goggles that impaired his vision and severely affected his equilibrium – the goggles created a feeling of intoxication – similar to that of a drunk driver. Dito struggled to stand upright and his motor skills had been totally compromised. While he said that he doesn't drink and drive, he thought that he'd fare better with the simulation.
"I actually did think that I would be fine and would walk straight," said Dito, who is enrolled in the international affairs graduate program at GWU. "But it was pretty disorienting and I couldn't [walk] a straight line. A lot of people have a relaxed attitude toward safety, but having events like this brings the issue to the forefront. I think it's good that people are becoming informed."
The event was the first of many that AT&T's Stephenson said the company has planned for college campuses across the nation and is one program that he hopes expands as awareness increases.
For Stephenson, there's more to be done.
"We're not going to be content until those 100,000 accidents and deaths per year [due to distracted driving] begin to move noticeably downward. So we're working hard to expand the movement. I want to ask everyone here to get involved," he said.
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