Youth Services Martin Luther King Education Center E-Newsletter
Oct. 2010

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What's new at the MLK Ed. Center?

The MLK Education Center has had an excellent start to this academic year. We have a solid group of youth who have laid a foundation of success for the months to come. Students have been enjoying the benefits of their vocational experiences in Culinary Arts, Horticulture, and Technology. Some students, such as Chaz Clausen are getting involved with two of the programs. 

  

Teachers have been working hard to enhance student's experience in and out of the classroom. The Smart Board has been the key to integrating technology into every classroom throughout the school. Students have been able to do hands-on work with the board as their knowledge of its capability grows daily. Having the ability to access the Internet and interactive activities as a group has been very helpful in building classroom morale.

 

We started the year off with some physical activity hiking Spencer's Butte for a morning. Only half of the students made it to the top of the Butte due to an unfortunate run-in with some  bees, but everyone left with a memorable story to tell.    

 Spencer's Butte Hike

Students made a trek to the University of Oregon to participate in a scavenger hunt to educate themselves on the campus layout, available resources, and research helpful opportunities available to them, such as the Testing Center for GED students.

 

More recently students went on two all-day field trips to visit the National Scenic McKenzie River Trail bridge project. These outings continue to give students the opportunity to witness the bridge building process and to explore the great outdoors in the backyard of their own community. We plan to connect classroom concepts with community experiences as much as possible in order to create an enriched learning experience. We look forward to sharing our adventures as the school year continues.

McKenzie River Trail
MLK Ed. Center In the News

Once KEZI's Dan Corcoran caught wind of the amazing new footbridges being built on the McKenzie River Scenic Trail , he came out and filmed a great story of our work.  Take a moment and check out our teens building bridges to a better future.

In This Issue
What's new at the MLK Ed. Center
MLK In the News
Quotable
Technology Program: The Fundamentals
Horticulture Program: Buliding Bridges to a Brighter Future
Student of the Month
Introducing Stephan Willow
Culinary Arts Program: Teamwork!
Student Perspective
Transitions
MLK By the Numbers
40-60 feet of logs spanning three different bridges being built on the McKenzie River Secnic Trail.

15,000 hours of service dontated by the MLK Ed. Center Horticulture Crew in the last year.

$100,000 dollars taxpayers wil save because of MLK and USFS bridge
building partnership.



 

 
 

Upcoming Events

Thurs, Nov. 4th, 2:00-5:00pm:
The Department of Youth Services will be hosting the 2010 Multi-Cultural Youth Resource Fair. 
  
Fri, Nov. 5th: EWEB's First Fridays Communities of Color
Culinary Arts Students will be serving crostini, Thai chicken skewers, marinated veggies, smoked salmon, baked brie, fruit, cookies, iced tea, and lemonade!
 
Sun, Nov. 7th: Peace Presbyterian Church Luncheon 
Culinary Arts Program will be preparing and serving grilled marinated chicken breast with pesto sauce and salad. 
  

Tues, Nov. 18th, 4:00-6:30: MLK Ed. Center Open House will be hosting a community Open House.  Come by and see what we do, meet some students, enjoy some food, and hang out!

 

 


 

Quotable

Wayne Chevalier, trail crew foremen for the U.S. Forest Service's McKenzie River Ranger District.

 

"We've partnered with the student crews since 2000, and they truly make a huge difference in how much trail work gets done on the McKenzie River Ranger District," says Chevalier. "The work these youth do maintains footbridges and an estimated 65 miles of trails for all to enjoy oin the forest and protects the investments taxpayers have made in their National Forests."  

Technology Program: The Fundamentals

   

Chaz Clausen 

 

Computer Technology students have started the term off with

lots of energy and enthusiasm.  All of the students have been eager to learn the fundamental operating principles of their machine and its internal components.  We've followed this up with lessons on how to prepare the hard drive for installing software and removing corrupt or virus infested files.   Next week we will begin to disassemble, inspect, and re-assemble a desktop computer.

Horticulture Program: Building Bridges to a Brighter Future
During the entire month of October, 2010, the MLK Education Center Horticulture Crews joined US Forest Service employees in constructing four new footbridges on the McKenzie River Trail in the Willamette National Forest.

The new footbridges replaced old bridges, which have reached their natural lifespan and rotted. Three of the footbridges span 40 feet, and a fourth bridge on the East Fork Trail spans more than 60 feet. The new structures will provide hikers, cyclists, and recreation enthusiasts with accessible and safe passages along the popular McKenzie River Trail.

Due to the remote location of the footbridges, their estimated construction is approximately $100,000, but the partnership between Lane County's MLK Education Center Horticulture Crews and the USDA Forest Service will save taxpayers approximately $100,000. The student work crews will build the entire bridges themselves, with only guidance from Forest Service Trail Crew Forman Wayne Chevalier and without the help of Forest Service trail crews.

BRIDGE FACTS
  • The bridges are designed to blend in with the natural surrounding environment and are constructed with small hand tools and skyline cable.
  • Except for nuts and bolts, construction materials will be sourced entirely from the surrounding forest.
  • The wood materials for the footbridges are supplied sustainably from dying trees in the forest or trees in need of thinning.
Student of the Month; Candace Unsain

Congratulations Candace Unsain for being awarded the MLK Education Center student of the month, for October, 2010.  The teachers at MLK describe Candace as very positive, motivated, determined, fun, and organized.  Candace conducts herself in a mature manner, has excellent academic focus, and shows great time management.  You can often find Candace working hard in the Culinary Arts Program and taking on extra shifts.  Candace is very respectful and a delight to have in the MLK Education Center program!  Nice Work!

Introducing Stephan Willow, Credit Recovery Teacher

We want you to get to know the staff at MLK Ed. Center better, so for the next several months, we will continue to highlight teachers, advisors, and assistants, along with some interesting facts about each of them.  

Introducing: Stephan Willow, Teacher 
stephan

 

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: Green - especially forest green

 

Q: Where were you born? 

A: West Chester, PA

 

Q: If you could have lunch with any person living or dead who would that person be and why?

A: I would wish to have lunch with Joseph Campbell.  His knowledge of mythology rooted in common practice and how it affects our lives has been central to a lot of my way of thinking.  It would be fascinating to discuss how mythology could be incorporated into the hyper-informational technological societies of the 21st century.

 

Q: Who was a great influence or mentor to you while you were growing up?

A: My mother was a huge influence on me growing up.  I developed a strong understanding of the need for a well-rounded education, compassion for those who have challenges of any sort, and a strong sense of the importance of maintaining self in the larger community.

 

Q: Why did you enter this field of work?

A: I have always felt that improving the world was a task granted to each individual.  We all have unique skills and talents to bring to this global project.  I chose to enter teaching because I want to have students develop their talents while also working on those areas where they have challenges. 

 

Q: What is your favorite part about working with MLK?

A: There are moments in each and every day when you see a student have something click for them.  It may be the solution to an algebra problem, a means of dealing with frustration, or a sudden realization that they are valuable.  Those moments are what I love about this opportunity.

 

Q: What is something about you nobody would know?

A: When I was a kid (6-8 years old), I would wake up early and read the encyclopedia.

Culinary Arts Program: Teamwork!

 

The Culinary Students teamed up with our Horticulture Students for a total of FIVE Farmer's Markets!  The students sold an abundance of produce, along with carne asada, bbq beef brisket sandwiches, agua fresca, and fruit salad.  The students did a phenomenal job working as a team and using their customer service skills!

 

 

 

 

 

Last, but not least, the catering department has been swamped with a variety of events ranging from in-house meetings to large offsite caterings!  Some of the menu items the students have served consist of poached salmon, plum cobbler, chocolate mousse, and cr�me brulee!

 

"The MLK Culinary Arts program has many different memorable events!  We do a variety of preparation and meals-everything from the Farmer's Market to lunches for special meetings.  Everything we do we handle with class and compassion.  I love being a part of this program, and I am grateful for all the knowledge I've gained from being a team member here."-Jessica Coles

.
udent Perspective:   By Candace Unsain, MLK Education Center Student
A new life over the bridge

 


'm crossing over the bridge to a new life and a new beginning. Being clean and sober, graduating R.A.P court, and getting my high school diploma are the steps I will take to complete my walk over this bridge.

 

Being clean and sober opened my eyes to become successful. It really helps build a relationship with my mom, which I really never had before. I can go do stuff that's fun with friends, like movies, shopping, and buying clothes because I now have the money to do those fun activities.

 

R.A.P court is one of the biggest accomplishments I want to complete, and it will definitely start a new beginning in my life. Getting rid of my charges will give me the hope and the mind power to not choose to mess up and get new charges. R.A.P. court has been a wonderful, bumpy ride in my life. Completing R.A.P. court will allow me to accomplish the goals I have for my life.

 

Last, but not least, I am going to earn my high school diploma. This is the biggest thing in my life right now. It means everything to me. I will get my diploma, and I won't settle for my G.E.D. I'm going to work hard for the credits I'm missing. I want to and will walk with my class in 2012! This will start a new beginning in my life.

 

When I complete these goals, I will have crossed a bridge to my success and a new life. Just ahead is another bridge waiting for me to cross over. By continually crossing these bridges, I will be successful and give myself hope to stay on the right path. I know I can and will do it!

 

Transitions

Congratulations to several MLK students who are already prepared to begin their GED testing!  A big congratulations to Anthony Maguire, Alex Welburn-Pinkard, and Heather Nelson.  They all began their testing on October 18.

Chris McGough

  

Chris McGough, an MLK summer school GED student, passed his GED this month!  Chris is a member of the Culinary Arts Program, and enjoys learning different jobs in the kitchen! Chris is a quick learner, has a positive attitude, and takes pride in his work.  Although he's fairly new to the program, Chris has already started helping newer youth with some of their Culinary Arts training.  Chris is applying to LCC for winter term and is interested in attending Bible College, as well. Chris has worked hard to make positive changes in his life and recently said, "You just got to deal with what life pushes your way.  Life's not easy."  We are very proud of him and his accomplishments, more importantly, Chris is very proud of himself.

  

Michael Norton 



Congratulations to Michael Norton for passing his GED!  Michael is currently job searching and is preparing to live on his own. Michael was an integral part of the MLK Horticulture Program and is now interested in a career in the construction and trade industries!  Michael enjoyed learning more about the different job opprotunties, at an MLK Ed. Center school field trip to EWEB's Teen Career Day, and he is now be applying for an EWEB internship. Great work, Michael!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Save 20%
Save 20% on your next catering order of $50 or more with the MLK Jr. Education Center Culinary Arts Program. 
 
To place a catering order, call (541) 682-2423, or e-mail [email protected].
 
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: October 25, 2010.
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