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MLK Jr. Education Center E-Newsletter
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January 2010 |
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Dear Reader:
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Welcome to this expanded, monthly issue of the MLK Education Center e-newsletter! Each month, this publication will arrive in your inbox, letting you know about all the great things that go on here. Our goal is to celebrate the achievements of our students and staff and let people know about MLK Ed Center programs. We hope you enjoy the new format, which includes expanded features such as the Young Cook of the Month spotlight and a calendar of upcoming events. We thank you for reading and we welcome your feedback.
Sincerely,
Matt Sterner, Principal
Martin Luther King Jr. Education Center |
| Culinary Arts Program |
 Things just keep getting tastier at the Culinary Arts Program. The program will be celebrating the release of a new menu with an open house this Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Carmichael Room at Lane County Youth Services. The free event, which is open to the public, features more than 20 menu selections, including Tandoori Chicken Skewers, Spicy Pork Empanadas and Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes. There will also be an omelet bar and a carving station featuring Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs and Carved Beef Tri-Tip. Some of the other hot items on the new menu include:
- Pan Seared Salmon With Lemon Caper Butter
- Tortilla Chicken Soup With Fresh-Fried Tortilla Strip
- Beef Tri-Tip With Wild Mushroom Demi-glace
That's not all students have been up to. On Jan. 5, young chefs catered the State of the County address at the county's public service building. Cooks also put on a New Year's Eve Chicken and Ribs promotion that quickly sold out.
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| MLK Education Center
By the Numbers |
96 - Percentage of youth who reported a positive experience at the center, based on a recently released contractor review of work completed by crews last summer.
51 - Number of racks of ribs sold for $18 each during a recent New Year's promotion by the Culinary Arts Program.
36 - Number of organic, free-range, antibiotic-free chickens from Draper Valley Farms that were sold for $8 a piece during the same promotion.
$15 - Cost of the new MLK Education Center calendar for 2010. Calendars are available and can also be purchased at two for $25. To purchase a calendar contact Piper Barry at piper.barry@co.lane.or.us.
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| Upcoming Events |
Jan. 28 - Catering Open House, Lane County Youth Services.
Feb. 4, 18 - Omelet and Crepes Bar, MLK Education Center
Feb. 7 - Super Bowl Sunday Take-Out, pick up chicken and ribs at the education center. |
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| Young Cook of the Week |
 Name: Trevor Lund
What I like About Cooking: "I love it! (Working in the kitchen) has taught me how to be responsible, work with coworkers, be tolerant of people who you may not get along with, (and) I learn how to make delicious food!"
Trevor's Spicy Cranberry Relish
3 cups fresh cranberries
½ of a medium yellow onion, diced
½ cup orange juice
Zest of one orange
1 jalapeno, minced
1 cup sugar
½ tsp salt
1. Sauté onion and jalapeno until tender, add cranberries and remaining ingredients and simmer 8-10 minutes.
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| Horticulture Program |
Students in the Horticulture Program had a successful day of volunteering at FOOD for Lane County's GrassRoots Garden on the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The garden provides fresh produce for the needy and serves as a gardening training ground for the community. Crews did hard farm labor all day and impressed the farms director. They were also featured on KMTR-TV's nightly news. Horticulture crews continued their hard labor on one of the city of Eugene's most po  pular attractions - the Ridgeline Trail. The 14-mile path - a portion of which is located on Mt. Baldy where horticulture crews were focused - is a favorite destination for hikers, runners and other recreationalists. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our horticulture crew, a significant portion of the trail is now flattened, graveled and weeded, making it even more enjoyable for users. Crews also continued to work on area OHV trails, removing trash and massive amounts of rock in an effort to slow erosion and increase sustainability in the area. These improvements will serve visitors for decades to come. The Native Nursery continues to improve. Crews have focused their efforts on potting and cutting plants and are working to dig 45 holes for pot placement. Their ultimate goal is to make the Native Nursery the largest such nursery of any juvenile facility in the nation and the finest native garden in Eugene! |
| Technology Program |
On Jan. 19, students from the Technology Program toured the facilities of two of our community partners, NextStep Recycling and Practical Computers. At NextStep Janet Ellis, the volunteer coordinator explained the various job opportunities available at the plant and handed out job application to all the students. Janet also emphasized that while NextStep does loads of recycling their emphasis is on refurbishing and reusing electronic products. The refurbished computers and other electronic devices are sold to the public in their on site retail store. At Practical Computers owner Cindy Manke explained to the kids how they can gain the credentials and experience needed to succeed as technicians in the computer industry. She talked about her own experiences, starting out as a beginner and gaining skills as she went along. She stressed the importance of gaining work experience, as well as taking classes in computer technology. Alex Konoff, one of the MLK Jr. Education Center's outstanding students, earned a ribbon of accomplishment for his work at NextStep Recycling. Alex is a graduate of the Computer Tech Program and is currently working on his A+ computer technician certification. Through the Technology Program, youth such as Alex complete paid internships with NextStep, and Practical Computers in which they gain valuable skills that help pave the way toward future careers. |
| MLK Education Center Contractor Review |
The results are in from a contractor review regarding work completed by crews from the Martin Luther King Education Center. The overall response by youth was overwhelmingly positive. Here are a few of the many notable comments that were made by the 25 students who were interviewed:
"I want to be a chef so working in the culinary arts program is awesome."
"The work is hard but fun. The people are nice."
"Making my own money makes me feel good. If it weren't for this program, I wouldn't be working at all. It's opened a lot of doors for me." |
| Transitions |
MLK Education Center student Jamal Small was recently hired by Safeway. Trevor Lund (see "Young Cook of the Month") who completed his GED last year and continued in MLK vocational programs this summer and fall has started at Lane Community College. MLK Education Center 2010 calendars are available for $15 (or two for $25). The calendar highlights many of the youth, involved in our programs. To purchase a calendar contact Piper Barry at piper.barry@co.lane.or.us. The Philippine American Association (PAA) will be provide a $250 scholarship to one of the MLK culinary youth who helps at the nonprofit PAA food booth for this year's Asian Celebration. The Omelet and Crepes Bar is back. Egg creations will be available to the public every other Thursday at the center from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The next Omelet and Crepes Bar is on Feb. 4. Staff from the City of Eugene recreation programs shared a fun presentation with MLK students about recreation opportunities, teen programs, and volunteer and employment opportunities. Shellye Reynoso, primary Workforce Investment Act (WIA) worker at DYS, will be going on maternity leave in February. Don Reynolds will be covering for her. Staff from the city of Eugene's Recreation and Cultural Services Division shared a fun presentation with MLK students about recreation opportunities, teen programs, and volunteer and employment opportunities. Students discussed new possible programs such as horseback riding, cycling and BMX riding and were encouraged to get involved in making these a reality. Thank you Mary and Kristen! | |
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| Save 20% |
Save 20% on your next catering order of $50 or more with the MLK Jr. Education Center Culinary Arts Program.
Print this coupon and present it in person to redeem value. Limit one per person. Offer not valid with other discounts or prior purchases. |
| Offer Expires: February 28, 2010. |
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