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In a continuing effort to bring resources
to the southern sector, Dallas City Councilman Leo Chaney
joined several businessmen in announcing $35,000 in grants
for youth-oriented and cultural programs.
Saying that the contributions would help "our com-munity
grow and prosper," Mr. Chaney praised Smirn-off Music
Center and the House of Blues for being good corporate citizens.
"This partnership will expose young minds to a myriad
of things and hope-fully teach them about team-work,"
said the veteran councilmember. "We've worked with
the Smirnoff Center over the years. This partnership is
in the eighth year."
Acknowledging Smir-noff's commitment to the area, John Ciulla,
Smirnoff Music Center's general manager said, "Our
goal is to be as involved as much as we possibly can, with
youth."
The South Dallas Cultural Center's manager, Vicki Meek,
has big plans for the contribution. She recalled a time
when the center's summer program "had only a handful
of children" from the South Dallas area. Today, she
said, the thriving center is bustling with activity and
has an award-winning pro-gram that is serving the youth
in a big way.
"This contribution will allow us to enhance a partnership
we have with the Central Dallas Ministries, to allow children
from Turner Courts to come and learn about their cultural
heritage."
Mr. Chaney called the Center "the jewel of cultural
arts in the City of Dallas especially under the leadership
of Vicki Meek."
Celebrating 20 years of existence, founded in 1986, the
Center, which is across the street from the Smirnoff Center,
provides instruction and enrichment in the performing, media,
literary and visual arts.
The Cultural Center, along with Boy Scouts of America- Circle
Ten Coun-cil, Dallas Biddy Basketball, Exline Recreation
Center, Park South YMCA, all received $3,000.
Donations of $10,000 each were presented to Tulisoma (Dallas
Public Library) and Clean South Dallas/Fair Park, Inc.
"Since 1980, Clean South Dallas/Fair Park has been
key to the revitalization of the area," said Mr. Chaney.
"We have to have a clean community."
Stressing the importance of the beneficiaries of the grants,
Mr. Chaney pointed out that after-school pro-grams are vital
to the community. "We need these after school programs
to address needs in our com-munity," he said, adding
that the support from the donors is not "a first-time
act of kindness."
As he introduced the Tulisoma team, Mr. Chaney talked about
the event he said promotes literacy and family unity. "Dr.
Harry Robinson of the African American Museum and I discussed
a program that would benefit families, and we have it, Tulisoma,"
held each August at several venues in the southern sector.
And for those interested in sports, there is the Dallas
Biddy Basketball program, which is designed for at-risk
youth, ages 6 to 14 and serves the South Dallas and surrounding
communities.
The after-school program at Exline Recreation Center provides
after-school supervision for youth also in the 6-14 age
range. Tutors are available to assist youth in sports, dance,
music and art. The popular program pro-vides field trips,
a reading club and guest speakers.
Park South YMCA will be using the funds for scholarships.
According to Mic-hael Brown, who oversees five Ys in the
southern sector, the Park South Y provides a safe environment,
health and wellness programs and also an opportunity to
learn how to swim in their state-of-art pool.
The contribution will help them to give "assistance
to families that cannot afford to join the Y" and also
whittle away at the Y's deficit.
When he came to the Y, Mr. Brown said he made it clear his
commitment to helping area families. "I said, 'I never
want to turn away another family.'" Citing 650 drownings
last year, Mr. Brown said that 60% of the victims, ages
6-19 "look like me."
Maybe with access to a pool and training like at Park South
YMCA, the numbers will be lower in that service area.
And exposure is just what Ponce Duran, Jr., the Scout Executive
for Circle Ten Council touted as he talked about getting
youth to experience being boy scouts.
"A lot of times our kids can't go to camp," said
Mr. Duran. "We will use these dollars to send many
kids to camp."
For Mr. Chaney, who is completing his last term, he doesn't
plan to sit around enjoying lame duck status. Instead he's
going to continue working to bring resources to what he
calls the "soul of the city."
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