Dara Jordan, a seventh grader, won the Daimler-Chrysler Award of Excellence. She will go on a three-week all expense paid study tour of Germany. There were 200,000 student entries. Thirty students were selected.

Healthy Stars - Poster and Poetry Contest Winners: The poster and poetry contest was designed to increase awareness about and promote DC Healthy Families. Twenty-six Healthy Stars winners developed posters and poetry that would send a strong, positive message to the community about the importantce of keeping families healthy! Jefferson was the winning school. Individual winners are: 2nd place/Poetry - Tanese Abrams; 3rd place/Poetry - Kavin Webb; Honorable Mention/Poetry - Nicole Aiken, Kristen Bulley, David Chen, Robyn Johnson and Monique Morton; Honorable Mention/Poster - Gkervais Edmonds.

Congratulations to Jefferson's cheerleaders and coaches. On March 19-21, 1999, they competed in the ECA Cheerleader Competition in Williamsburg, Viriginia and placed as follows: ECA Cheer Classic - 2nd runner up; and ECA National Invitational - Honorable Mention.

Eight DCPS students were awarded full four-year scholarships to George Washington University, each valued at more than $130,000. Two of those students are former Jefferson Trojans! Congratulations to Linda Rivera and Ngar Yo. Both students will graduate from School Without Walls in June 1999.

While the Washington Post on April 26th published strong criticism of the Police Department, the Southwest Safety Task Force's own interchanges with the police have improved.

The good happenings are small but tend to be in the right direction. After suffering five transfers in two years in First District police officers assigned to develop community relations with the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, the Task Force sharply protested to Chief Charles H. Ramsey and also engaged his top public relations executive in a dialogue about the transfers.

To build a crime reporting network that really contributes to crime prevention, the police must trust the citizens to call in information, and the citizens must trust that the communications will be kept confidential, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

At issue was the recent transfer of Lt. Derric Milligan who was making friends and building productive contacts throughout the community only to be shifted out of the First Police District to citywide special duty. The Task Force has now been informed that Milligan is probably returning to the First District at the end of the summer.

First District Commander Kim C. Dine attended the April Task Force meeting after calling off two meetings that had been scheduled at the time and place the Commander chose. He joined in the discussion at the April meeting and asked the Task Force to advocate a change in city laws making misdemeanor marijuana offenses into felonies. "It is not that marijuana is so bad," he said,"but sales are associated with shooting and other violence."

Later in the meeting, Sgt. Andrew Struhar explained that two SW killings that week were drug related, the second apparently an answer to the first. Struhar discussed recent crimes and cited several arrests made by police bicycle patrols and plain clothes men. Plain clothes officers are making more arrests than the Task Force anticipated. Prevention is picking up.

What's important about these details is not that the SW Safety Task Force and the police are solving the mysteries of our homicides-- they're not, nor is there a stop to mugging in broad daylight on M Street. But it is important that the First District police and the Task Force are beginning to recognize one another and work together.

They are setting up liaisons to put citizen volunteers at magistrate's offices and in courts to display public opinion against easy-off releases of minor offenders, many of whom are repeat offenders openly soliciting drug buys in our neighborhoods.

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Roxana Folescu, with the help of Milligan, is on her way to restoring Orange Hat marches. As a member of the Safety Task Force, she is recruiting people to march in their own neighborhoods.

After two years of educating itself, and beginning to establish relations of trust with the police, the Task Force now is undertaking a heavy agenda of work. At least a hundred neighborhood watchers are needed to report crimes and suspicious characters to the police. The task force has only 10 watchers now.

During his inauguration speech, Mayor Anthony Williams appealed to District residents to come out of the stands and get out on the playing field to make a difference. The Southwest community returned the challenge. On March 23, 1999, Mr. Bill Highsmith, Special Assistant to Doug Patton, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, and members of the Southwest community toured the facilities of a suburban firm offering to invest in the city by replicating its Service Bureau facility in Southwest Washington at Buzzards Point. The project would bring up to 400 new jobs to Southwest -- welfare-to-work jobs.

A Service Bureau is a facility that specializes in providing large institutional customers like government agencies, banks, hospitals, schools, etc. with the full range of document management technologies. The firm was recruited by O. "Mac" McCauley, Jr., a long-time resident of Southwest and a minority businessman. Mr. McCauley said that "The Service Bureau Initiative" was designed as a model to demonstrate implementation of the Control Board's economic development objectives. The Mayor will gain cutting-edge technologies to accelerate the pace of reforms and return to home rule. Simultaneously, the facility will expand the city's revenue base by creating new jobs, including welfare-to-work jobs. Over a five-year period, the city can gain $23,100,000 in new revenue and reduce assistance payments by $5,006,400.

When I was growing up in Mississippi in the 70's, I often noticed that there was a sense of community. It was not so much that we lived in that community, as opposed to that community lived in us. We could borrow a cup of sugar from any neighbor and you could feel the love that permeated that cup. We had built a framework - warmth, friendship, concern, understanding, patience, sharing, and a whole lot of caring.

We had built a community. As the newly elected president of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, I still see that cup of sugar that can be passed from one neighbor on South M Street to another on North M Street. I can see a person who has lost hope in local government find us as an alternative. I believe that what makes us different is what makes us alike. A marriage in which mutual respect abounds from both sides.

In summary, in every human community there are different ideas of what it means to be a community. However, I know we can strike a balance. C'mon join the S.W.N.A. ----- where Community matters.

Affectionately,

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton at her "Education Town Meeting" in Southwest told of money becoming available for college students and new money for the D.C. school system.

She introduced U. S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley who spoke about President Clinton's proposals in Congress to give D.C. 178 new teachers and tax credits for $114 million of school repair funds. The town meeting was held in the U.S. Department of Education headquarters building on C St. S.W.

Every 1st Tuesday, they meet from 12 - 2 at Link 'n Learn (in Waterside Mall). All who are interested in the growth of services to Southwest youth are welcome to attend. A very inspiring speaker, Diane Quinn -- an administrator in the DC Department of Recreation -- made a presentation at the last meeting. She has assisted many community groups to realize their dreams. The dream of the YATF is to have a community center which serves all residents. What to do and how to plan for such an eventuality was the focus of her presentation.

On Friday, April 30, 1999, Amidon Elementary School held its first Peace Run. As one of five selected D.C. Public elementary schools, Amidon ES students, staff and family had the opportunity to meet and run with Peace Runners from Norway, West Africa, Russia and Belize. Students were bedecked in school spirit and bursting with pride as they paraded behind torch-carrying Peace Runner Khipra Nichols around the school grounds. Eight Amidon torch-carrying students and several teachers joined the Peace Runners in laps around the playground.

Then various classes performed songs and dances demonstrating peace. The Peace Runners and student Sheila Mgaza commented on the need for striving to create peace in our world. Principal Barbara Nophlin commended everyone present for daring to make a difference. The afternoon ended with much reflective thought and creative writing by our students. John Terry, P.E. teacher, coordinated the informative and fun-filled afternoon for our school family. The Peace Run serves as the first significant step Amidon ES will take into the New Millennium.

The Peace Run is founded on the premise that the seeds of a more peaceful world lie within each individual. The program seeks to encourage students to consciously develop their inner attitudes and outer skills as a means of embodying and expressing peace in their lives. "Take A Step For Peace" is an educational outreach program of Peace Runs International. The Peace run was founded by peace advocate Sri Chinmoy as a means of advancing global harmony. This run is at the core of a soulful peace offering for many international runners. World peace begins in the heart of each individual who is full of hope and inspiration.

ESSAYS ON PEACE FROM AMIDON THIRD GRADERS

WHAT PEACE MEANS TO ME
y Erdit Gremi, Mrs. McCain's 3rd grade class.

Peace is when there are no wars and when there are no bombs and fights, when everybody is happy. In fights people get hurt and killed. That happens in wars, but in wars more people get hurt and killed. But basically fights and wars are the same and something should definitely be done about it. If there was peace, nobody would get hurt. And that is what peace means to me.

WHAT PEACE MEANS TO ME?
By Brittanny Tyree, Grade 3, Mrs. Margerum's class

Peace means to be quiet and to help the world. When you are quiet you can get things done. When you are quiet you can pay attention to your teacher, so you will know what to do. Peace is God, because when you go to church you praise his holy name. Peace is in heaven, because it is so quiet. When you love someone that is peace. When you eat that is peace. When you walk, that is peace. When you learn, that is peace. When you swim, that is peace. When you work, that is peace. When you play, that is peace, When you cry, that is peace. When you smile, that is peace. When you pray, that is peace.

WHAT DOES PEACE MEAN TO ME?
By Jasmine Kamura, Mrs. McCain's 3rd grade class.

Margaret Feldman, Board member of River Park Friends and former president of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, reported on the first activity supported by River Park Friends: "Pigskin Geography" - the support of three months of the Monday issue of the Washington Post for three grades in the Bowen School in Southwest Washington, DC

Ms. Feldman and Martin Forrester, another Board member of River Park Friends, had visited with the school principal, Mrs. Rosalie Huff, and teachers, to receive thank you letters from students who were recipients of the subscription. Through this project, Bowen students reported learning about our country and its states; developing map skills and learning directions; identifying state capitals and large cities; gaining knowledge about the weather in the entire United States; and obtaining help and knowledge in social studies, reading, science, math, and entertainment.

Other possible projects were discussed for support by River Park Friends. The members of the Advisory Committee agreed to work together with the Board to determine ongoing activities and needs to supplement those activities that will benefit the neighborhood in Southwest Washington, DC.

Ms. Njideka Olatunde has accepted the position of coordinator of Southwest Community House's (SWCH) seniors program. The program, located at the Greenleaf Seniors Dwelling at 1200 Delaware Avenue, S.W., Apartment #3, distributes food, provides information and referral, and coordinates occasional special activities for seniors residing there and in the near Southwest.

"Ms. Olatunde possesses a Masters degree in Social Work and a wealth of experience working with senior", beamed Peter Jones, SWCH's Executive Director. We're fortunate to have her on our team."

Within the next six months, according to Mr. Jones, Ms. Olatunde will solidify the seniors program "and, thereafter, contribute to its expansion. I and the Board of Directors are expecting great things from her."

"I have always enjoyed working with seniors", commented Ms. Olatunde. "I am looking forward to learning, sharing and exchanging ideas with the seniors at Greenleaf and all seniors in the Southwest community." She described her professional style as friendly, "open door, feel-free-to-stop-in-and-say-hello".

The Southwest Chamber Players will continue through the summer, with several exciting programs planned for the next two months.

On Wednesday, May 26, cellist John Kaboff, whose spectacular work electrified the audience in January, will return with a new group of friends: Alfred Clark, piano; Amy Thomas, flute; and Jerry Schwarz, clarinet. The program will consist of Johannes Brahms's Clarinet Trio, op.114, and Bohuslav Martinu's Flute Trio, together with shorter works of Barber, Piazzolla, and Villa-Lobos.

Two weeks later, the Hunt Quartet, which is new to Southwest audiences, will appear on Thursday, June 10, with Brahms's extraordinary String Quartet (op. 67) and Dmitiri Shostakovich's marvelous anti-Soviet Quintet for Piano and Strings, with pianist Stephen Kline.

And then three weeks after that, pianist David Ehrlich will return fresh from several weeks of chamber music workshops to join baritone Olivier Fourcade, whom audiences will remember from his memorable work in the Christmas concert, in a program of lieder by Ludwig von Beethoven and François Poulenc. That date is Wednesday, June 30.

SWCP also has plans for a July concert including Nayiri Poochikian, violin, and Jack Hufnagle, horn, and a semi-pop program with Joyce Bouvier in August.

On Thursday, March 23, 1999, the 14th Annual Interfaith Conference was held at the Adas Israel Congregation in Northwest. The conference was an effort to bring high school students and adults from nine different faiths together for an open dialogue to create religious tolerance and understanding. The nine faiths represented at the conference were: Baha'I, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Latter Day Saints, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, as well as those non-committed.

Betty Brown of the Youth Activities Task Force of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly recruited two Southwest youth to participate in this stimulating and enlightening dialogue. They were Nikea Williams, a Junior in the School Without Walls, and Andrea Clipper, a sophomore from Wilson High School. At this dialogue the participants sat around large conference tables with an assigned leader and shared their thoughts on how their faiths' core values related to societal problems and concerns. Most of the youth wore their native attire and each faith had an opportunity during breaks to share the principles of their faiths through song, chanting, and prayer.

On April 24, Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson won the vacant International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight championship. His opponent was Ratanachai Vorapin of Thailand, whom he beat with a unanimous decision over 12 rounds. This was the first time that a boxing match had been held at the MCI Center. Johnson easily won on the cards of all three judges to establish himself as the new IBF junior bantamwight champion of the world.

In the National Police Athletic League tournament in Ft. Myers, Florida, last month, Southwest's own Club #4 age 10-and-under basketball team went undefeated against such teams as New York and Detroit to win the national championship.

This team has been Washington, D.C. city champions two years in a row against other Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Clubs in Washington. They had competed in Florida last year but had an 0-5 record there, so revenge was on everyone's mind.

This year in Florida, D.C. league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) Radford Ferguson averaged 15 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists. Many players had standout games, including George Washington with 10 points and 8 steals in the championship game.

Younger Players Start June 5

The regular adult basketball tournament on Fridays and Saturdays, and a new league for age 15 to 17 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will play this summer at King Greenleaf outdoor court. Coaches for the new league were scheduled to meet May 17, as The Southwester went to press.

As before, the 8 adult teams will be organized by housing complexes. Their coaches will meet June 9 at 6:30 pm with Resial Baybay Shannon and Donald Disco Covington, who will be League Commissioners this year.