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UPS Foundation Partners with Local Nonprofit to Create Six Resource Centers
$20,000 Donation to Purchase Chromebooks for CMS Students The UPS Foundation has partnered with the Ausie Rivens Scholarship Foundation (ARSF) to create Resource Centers to assist students who have have experienced hardship due to remote learning. A donation of $20,000 was presented to ARSF, which will purchase chromebooks to create learning centers for students, Grades 3-12. Join us for the presentation on September 11, 2020 at 12:00pm, McCrorey YMCA, 3801 Beatties Ford Rd. Retired educators and volunteers will staff the Centers and will be available Monday through Saturday beginning October 1st. The six locations for the centers are McCrorey YMCA, Stratford Richardson YMCA, CN Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian, Greenville Memorial AME Zion, Rockwell AME Zion and Macedonia Baptist. Remote learning created by the impact of COVID 19 has resulted in additional challenges for our students. UPS Northeast Division Manager Henry Beards says that UPS CEO Carol Tome’ has committed to one million UPS volunteer hours of service around the world in support of mentorship, life skills and educational programming in underserved Black communities. The UPS African American Business Group will mentor and support virtual learning at the six locations. Beard added that “support of the Resource Centers is just one method of providing assistance to ensure students have the tools needed to keep up with their school’s curriculum. Thank you to the Charlotte community for uniting in this effort to support some critical needs for our kids.” |
I was honored to receive the Charlotte Mecklenburg Chief's Award for Excellence in Policing for TEAM, Teen Engagement and Mentorship program. I am fortunate enough to work as an Associate Chaplain with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's office. As a result of my role with the Sheriff's Office, I connected with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, former Gang members, the Relatives program and Nations Ford Community Church to implement a non-traditional way of working with our youth in the community.
Representatives from the agencies listed above, dress casually and meet weekly at the CATS Transit Center to talk with area teens. The results have been amazing. At least 50 young people respond and seek assistance each week. You may find it surprising that many of them react favorably in spite of the fact that they may have been arrested by a CMPD officer and detained by a Mecklenburg County Sheriff officer in the past. Many of our youth in the community are looking to talk and to get information about jobs and to get their GED. Members of both law enforcement agencies have taken on the role of building relationships with our 16 and 17 year old youth while they are incarcerated at Jail North. Once the youth are released, the communication continues. CMPD and the Sheriffs share information about each individual's neighborhood and commit to checking on them once per week. TEAM also travels weekly to Stonewall Jackson Youth development Center to mentor to youth and discuss life and choices. Charlotte Mecklenburg Police and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office have several programs to work with juveniles including a juvenile diversion program, a reality program and more. TEAM is the perfect example of different agencies creating a partnership to show genuine concern for our community. If your agency or Ministry is interested in becoming involved, email: rivenstonya@gmail.com |
Tonya Rivens is a Radio and Television Personality, Philanthropist and Business Woman
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