About The Savannah tribune. (Savannah, Ga.) 1973-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 2008)
PRSRTSTD U.S POSTAGE PAID Savannah. GA Permit No. 923 “GEORGIA’S BEST WEEKLY” tP)t Crthune Week of October 8,2008 - October 14,2008 • Vol. 36 No. 34 • www.savannahtribune.com • 912-233-6128 • Fax: 912-233-6140 Obama Receives Phoenix Award atALC'08 Gala Dinner Senator Barack Obama Nation's Two Black Governors, California Assembly Speaker and Actress Among Other Awardees WASHINGTON - The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) bestowed this year's prestigious Phoenix Awards upon Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and five other distinguished individuals at the 38th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) awards dinner, on Saturday, September 27, 2008, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. In addition to Senator Obama, the Democratic nominee for presi dent and the U.S. Senate's only African-American member, the other 2008 Phoenix Award winners include: Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and New York Gov. David A. Paterson; California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass; actress and humanitarian Kerry Washington and Eleanor M. Josaitis, co-founder of Focus: HOPE, a civil and human rights organization in Detroit. Many members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and other VIPs and celebrities attended the star-studded event after their red-carpet arrival at the con vention center. "The Phoenix Award recog nizes those who through their efforts and accomplishments have made significant contributions to society, and it symbolizes the immortality of the human spirit and an eternal desire to reach its full potential," said Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., the Foundation's president and chief executive officer. "Our winners con tinue to inspire and we proudly honor them." Actress Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, retired NFL quar- See Obama, page 19 Savannah Branch NAACP to hold Freedom Fund Awards Banquet T he Savannah Branch NAACP will host its 28 11 ' Annual Freedom Awards Banquet on Saturday, October 25, 2008, 8:00 p.m. at the Hyatt-Regency Savannah. This year's Roll of Honor recipients are: Mrs. Edna B. Jackson, Alderman-At- Large, Post 1; Rev. Dr. Charles L. Hoskins, Retired Rector - St. Matthews Episcopal Church & Author; and Mr. Benjamin R. Polote, Sr., The Polote Corporation. These local citizens will be recog nized for their service to the communi ty in the fields of social justice, educa tion and economic empowerment. Dr. Joseph (Pete) Silver, Sr. will serve as moderator of this year's event. Themed "Power, Justice, Freedom, Vote!," the evening will begin with an open recep tion in the Atrium of the Hyatt- Savannah at 7:00 p.m. Ticket and ad prices remain Edna Branch Jackson unchanged at $75.00 per individual or $750 for a table of ten. Souvenir book- See NAACP, page 19 SCCPSS Announces Its Top Three Finalists for District Teacher of the Year L to R: Richard Clifton, Rosalyn L. Martin and Daniel Scope SCCPSS announced its top three finalists for District Teacher of the Year during a reception hosted by Savannah Morning News and WSAV to honor each school’s Teacher of the Year. Rosalyn L. Martin, a third-grade teacher at Gadsden Elementary School, Daniel Snope, an advanced placement cal culus and math teacher at Savannah Arts Academy and Richard Clifton, an advanced placement and honors English teacher at Windsor Forest High School, were the three finalists chosen among the 52 teachers nominated as their schools' Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year serves as an educational ambassador for the district. He/she will act as a representative for all SCCPSS teachers and serve as an advo cate for the school system. These three finalists will move for ward to compete for the honor of SCCPSS’ District Teacher of the Year. Over the next few weeks, these teachers will be observed in the classroom and interviewed by a panel judges comprised of educators and community leaders. The panel will compile their findings and the SCCPSS’ Top Teacher will be announced at a banquet in February to honor each of our school’s Teachers of the Year. The SCCPSS District Teacher of the Year will go on to compete at the state level. The Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists is expected to be announced mid- February. Dr. Miller-Fields Honored with the Gwendolyn P. Goodman “Champion for Children'' Award Known for her caring spirit, grace, leadership, and dedication to improving the lives of youth, Dr. Quentina Miller-Fields, Sr. Director of Pupil Personnel for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, was honored with the Gwendolyn P. Goodman “Champion for Children” Award during the 8th Annual Community Summit hosted by the Savannah- Chatham County Youth Futures Authority. Nominated by a former student, Dr. Miller-Fields has been with SCCPSS for 21 years. Her earlier years were spent as a job place ment specialist for Riley Learning Center. Before that she worked as a school social worker at Savannah Corporate Academy, Heard, Juliette Low and Gadsden Elementary schools. Since becoming Sr. Director for Pupil Personnel, Dr. Miller- Fields has instituted the Young Males Readiness Camp, a successful summer program that helps guide, motivate and build character in young males along with working diligently to reduce the truancy rate for the dis trict. “Dr. Fields is a true asset to the Savannah- Chatham County School Board; she has always been Dr. Quentina Miller-Fields dedicated to improving the lives of the youth,” says Donna Williams, former stu dent. “She has been a key factor in furthering my edu cation, because she was the first African American woman to tell me “you can succeed” and “you are beau tiful.” The Youth Futures Authority Gwendolyn B. Goodman Award was estab lished in memory of Gwendolyn B. Goodman, widely known and respected for her leadership, commu nity service and advocacy for children. Selections were made based on nominations of those individuals and/or entities that have made sig nificant contributions to help Youth Futures Authority achieve its collec tive vision. Welcome to the State of Poverty Hands On Savannah of the United Way of the Coastal Empire and Step Up Savannah, Inc. are partnering to host a poverty simulation on Tuesday, October 14. The simulation is open to the public and will take place from 9 a.m. - 12 noon at Savannah's Civic Center. The simulations, developed by Rowel (Reform Organization of Welfare) Education Association, require groups of 35 to 75 people to assume the roles of families liv ing in poverty. The goal of each family is to survive for one month, which takes place in four 15-minute "weeks." In this time, participants must maintain secure shelter, utilities, feed their families, make loan payments, meet living expenses such as transportation, handle unexpected emer gencies, access local support services, and keep their chil dren in school - all while subsisting at or below the poverty See State of Poverty, page 19 Saturday Banking arver ) FDIC ■new branch and a proud tradition of service. ! 7110 Skidavvay Road - Savannah, Genista 31406 O A - 1 P.M
