|
|
Youth Services Martin Luther King Education Center E-Newsletter
| July 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
Horticulture Program: The Horticulture Students Make Head Way
|
 Students from
the Horticulture Program continue making their way through a massive summer
to-do list throughout Lane County. Trail work, maintenance and invasive plant
removal have kept crews busy and productive this month. In the city,
crews spent four days weed-eating fence lines around the Wayne Morse Family Farm. The property not only looks much cleaner, but crews also helped to limit
fire hazards by destroying dry and overgrown plants, shrubs and weeds. The city
crew will now move on to Amazon Parkway and the surrounding areas where
low-lying shore pines line and crowd the fence.  Farther out,
horticulture crews worked to prevent erosion on the OHV trails by laying paver
stones. Crews also continued work on the Olallie trail for the Blue River
Ranger District, clearing fallen limbs and brush from the trail corridor
running through the Three Sisters Wilderness. In the DYS
garden, more herbs were planted, and at least 20 cubic yards of composting
leaves were spread into garden beds as a mulch agent and weed barrier. Garden
crews anticipate a mound of veggies and fruit in the coming weeks, including
tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and watermelon. |
| Student Perspective: Chris Ledgett |  My time at the MLK Ed. Center and with the Culinary Program opened my eyes to prepping, cooking and serving the public. I realized that I was good at cooking and mingling with the people that we served. I enjoyed catering, getting the chance to see other facilities and having people count on me to give them great service. I am currently interning with ShelterCare as a cook, and I get to apply the skills and recipes and overall knowledge that the Culinary Program taught me. I also plan on attending Lane Community College in the fall and applying for the Culinary Program there. The MLK Ed. Center's Culinary Program has taught me confidence, social skills and a work ethic that allows me to complete tasks. This program worked for me, and I appreciate all the people that I have had the chance to work with.
|
|
 |
MLK Ed. Center:
By the Numbers | |
200 pounds of
garlic bulbs harvested by Horticulture Program students in June and July
30 catering
events successfully serviced by Culinary Arts Program students in June and July
8 miles of
Olallie Ridge trail restored by Horticulture Program students in June and July
23 computers
donated by Lane County Information Services to the Technology Program in July
30 heads of
lettuce harvested by the Horticulture Program students in June and July
|
| Upcoming Events | |
August 8:
Culinary Arts Program students cater South Eugene High School's Reunion for 100
guests.
August 22:Culinary Arts Program students cater "One Field Meal" for 150-200 guests.
September 15:Culinary Arts Program students cater Oregon Social Learning Center health fair
for 100-150 guests.
|
|
|
|
Culinary Arts Program: Hard Work Brings Payoff for Students
|  The summer heat may slow some people down, but not the Culinary Arts students, who picked up the pace this month with several well attended catering events, including the City of Eugene Volunteer Appreciation dinner, which boasted 100 guests.
Looking forward, the Culinary Arts Program has six catering events in August, in addition to the highly anticipated One Field Meal, a catering event focused on local, sustainable food production.
The One Field Meal will be held at Polyrock Ranch, where beef and 'beefalo' have been raised on more than 400 acres for several decades. Polyrock Ranch owners lease a portion of their land to an organic farmer, who will donate vegetables to the One Field Meal.
Local chefs will design the menu, and students from the Culinary Arts Program will help set up a kitchen on site and prepare food for 150 to 200 guests.
Through the many events the Culinary Arts students participate in, relationships and reputations are made. It comes as no surprise that the students' ambition and dedication are recognized at the MLK Ed. Center and beyond. Students' assistance in events such as the Centro Latino Americano's "Amigos de Centro" make lasting impacts. "Centro Latino Americano would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the MLK Culinary Arts Program for your donation and time in helping make our Amigos de Centro event such a huge success," said Marcela Mendoza, Centro Latino Americano's executive director. "We were extremely impressed with the quality of the dinner and the professionalism of the youth. This event would not have been possible without your support." |
Recipe: Grilled Marinated Shrimp Skewers
|
Looking for a
quick, easy grilling recipe this summer? Try the Culinary Program's Grilled Marinated Shrimp Skewers,
which taste great with chilled lemonade and a side of salad.
Yields six
servings
30
medium sized shrimp, peeled and de-veined
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons lime zest
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
1 pinch of red chili flakes
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons green onions
6 eight-inch wooden skewers
In
a medium to large bowl, mix all ingredients and let marinate for 1-2 hours. To
keep skewers from burning, soak them in water for up to 2 hours before
grilling. Remove shrimp from marinade and place five shrimp on each skewer. For
best results, grill skewers on a hot grill for 5-6 minutes.
|
Technology Program: The Technology Program Makes Upgrades
|
 Although no
summer Computer Tech class was offered, there was still work to be done to
prepare for the upcoming school year. This month, the focus was to improve the
Technology Program by making hardware upgrades and curriculum improvements.
Lane County Information Services generously donated a large quantity of computers to the
Technology Program, which feature advanced technology. Additionally, a network
server that will help students learn crucial maintenance skills was donated.
Class training
materials also underwent some additions, including laptop repair and maintenance
and customer service coursework.
As the summer
goes on, the Technology Program will continue to make improvements in
anticipation for a new group of eager students.
|
Students of the Month: Roberto Quiroz-Mendoza & Cory Wagner
|
Roberto Quiroz-Mendoza | Congratulations to Roberto Quiroz-Mendoza and Cory Wagner, who both illustrated terrific attitudes and a strong desire to learn this month!
Roberto started the month with a smile on his face and a drive to get the most out of MLK Ed. Center's summer program. He's on time for school each day and well prepared for class. Roberto set realistic goals for himself, and he's well on his way to achieving them. His optimistic outlook and great overall judgment helped make him the "A.M." student of the month.
Cory Wagner  | Cory
Wagner has great attendance for
the P.M. class and comes to school with a smile on his face and ready to
learn. His funny personality and his positive
attitude makes it a pleasure to have him present in school and on the
Horticulture Crew. He is interested in
dirt bikes and he really enjoys his time spent out on the Horticulture Crew,
being a part of clearing fields and building trails. Academically, he is doing well in class and
stays focused during class time. We are
happy to announce that he is student of the month for the summer experience
program.
|
|
|
|
Quotable |
Quotes about MLK
Ed. Center students and their impact on the community:
"Centro is grateful to the MLK Culinary Arts Program for
your generous donation. Through this type of community partnership, Centro is
more effective in our work of strengthening Latino families in Lane County." - Marcela Mendoza, Centro Latino Americano
"I've received
numerous expressions of thanks for the [Horticulture Program's] work done to
remove the blackberries. The youth crew from MLK 'crushed it.' They finished
the job in less time than anticipated. They worked hard and did a great job.
Many thanks to all who were involved." - Roger
Bailey, City of Eugene Outdoor Program
|
MLK Ed. Center In the News
|
Local
publications and radio stations recently highlighted the MLK Ed.
Center for its Horticulture Program and for one of its students.
MLK Ed. Center
student Josiah Trigg was featured in a Register-Guard article about Lane County's foster program
in the article, "For These Kids, Few Takers," published July 17.
Several
articles and audio bits were published about the Horticulture Program's work at
the Fern Ridge Reservoir. The Register-Guard highlighted the crew's
effort to remove safety hazards for lake boaters in the article, "Hazard Eliminated," published July 21. KLCC emphasized the restoration aspect of
the project in the article, "Youth Work Crews Preserve Habitats," published and aired July 19.
|
Farewells: Joni Herb & Julianne Phillips
|
 MLK Ed. Center
would like to acknowledge two wonderful individuals for their contributions to
our programs. Thank you Joni Herband Julianne Phillips for your hard
work, dedication and compassion - you will be missed.
Joni started her
career in education in 1990 as a night school instructor in Springfield and as
a GED instructor in Cottage Grove. She later became a teacher and education
coordinator. When Joni joined the MLK Ed. Center, she served as a teacher and
case manager. Joni plans on substitute teaching, spending time with her foster
daughter, Bella, and working in her garden as she moves into semi-retirement.
While working
half time for the Department of Youth Services, Julianne worked as a program
assistant at the MLK Ed. Center. The position allowed her to work on grants and
contracts, including the Work Investment Act and Department of Labor Youth
Offender Grant. Julianne's work extended to helping her peers and supervisors,
as well as providing support services to students. She has been a pleasure to
coordinate projects with, and her attention to detail has been an integral part
of the expansion of MLK Ed. Center's programs. Her involvement in nearly every
facet of the development and coordination of new hires, events and support
services has highlighted her selflessness and her ability to navigate through
different programs, staffing and supervisor patterns and youths' needs. Julianne
is moving to San Diego, Calif., to be closer to family.
|
| Transitions |  Kayla Brown recently started an internship with Warp Grafix, a custom decal maker in Eugene. The internship teaches Kayla about the graphic design industry, including how to manage the specialized equipment.
After becoming certified in hair design, Lacey Larossa works at Super-Cuts and is further developing her skills and clientele.
Jacob Brenner continues his internship with Eugene's Fire & EMS Department. Part of his responsibility is preparing for the Fire & EMS Department's annual hose testing and filling the oxygen tanks.
Successfully employed at Gateway Adult Residential Care, Kymbreyona Hampton looks forward to getting back to class in the fall when she will take the CAN II.
Seth White and Kate Jackson stay dedicated to their education by attending summer classes to get ahead for the fall term.
Congratulations to Jalen Heard for graduating from the Phoenix program and for his great work in the MLK Culinary Arts Program. Jalen is currently attending The Rites of Passage program at Lane Community College. He enjoys learning about African-American culture, making new connections and gaining more school credits.
Casey Brocco, an MLK GED graduate, was recently hired at WinCo Foods. Casey works graveyard shifts and enjoys his first job.
After completing the MLK Computer Technology Program, William Speed was hired to do computer work at Oakridge Computers in Oakridge, his hometown. Before venturing back to Oakridge, William interned at Next Step Recycling. Eventually, William plans to return to school in Oakridge in the fall and attend college. While at MLK, he helped create mock computer problems that will be used in future classroom exercises.
Alex Konnoff is assisting MLK staff on program video development and editing. Josiah Trigg is a WIA youth whose accomplishments were recently highlighted in KEZI and Register-Guard stories about youth in the foster care system. Josiah completed a WIA paid internship at Next Step Recycling and attended Lane Community College to study computers. He hopes to graduate in the field of computers and technology.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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: August 25, 2010. |
|
|
