dazzling exhibition of gold at national museum of ... - The Metro Herald

AROUND THE REGION/AROUND THE NATION
June 9, 2006
“
Carver: The Heart of a Community”
focuses on the pivotal
role of George Washington
Carver High School and Junior
College in the lives of African American
students in Montgomery County.
This multimedia exhibit about the
school was opened with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony at the Carver Educational
Services Center (CESC) in
Rockville on Wednesday, May 17,
2006. Among the attendees were
teachers, administrators, and students
who were part of the Carver community
during the years the school was
open for African American students in
Montgomery County.
Carver opened in 1951 for African
American students in a segregated
county and closed just nine years later
when the public school system completed
its integration plan. The first
high school built to standards on par
with White schools in the county,
Carver also was the home of the first
junior college for African American
students in the county.
The “Carver: The Heart of a Community”
exhibit is on display in the
lobby of CESC, which has housed the
Montgomery County Public Schools
(MCPS) administrative offices since
1961, a year after the Carver school
closed.
“This is a story of inspiration and
courage,” said Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent
of schools. “To those
Carver staff and students who are here,
and to others who could not be here,
we thank you for providing us with a
model from which we all can learn.”
The exhibit in the lobby of the
Carver Center features personal stories
and recollections of segregated education
in the county. Seven large wall
panels display historical information,
as well as photographs and images of
documents and artifacts from the private
collections of former Carver staff
members and students and other community
members. Most of the images
are on public display for the first time.
A television monitor displays excerpts
from videotaped oral histories that describe
the experiences of former students
at Carver and in education during
segregation.
An accompanying 16-page booklet
and interactive website, www.
MCPScarverhistory.org, provide additional
information and photographs
to allow visitors to more fully comprehend
the uniqueness of Carver. A curriculum
on the Carver History Project
for MCPS students is being developed
to complement studies of local history
and provide a firsthand view of the impact
of both segregation and the difficult
years of desegregation that followed.
“The establishment of Carver was
the result of the strong and steadfast
commitment in the African American
community for a better education for
their children,” said Dr. Frieda K.
Lacey, deputy superintendent of
schools. “It was a major step forward
in the steady progress toward equal educational
opportunities for African
American students.”
The exhibit was developed by the
Carver History Project Committee,
comprising staff from MCPS, former
Carver students and staff members,
and two local authors of books on the
education of African American students
in Montgomery County. The
committee was aided by the many
Carver graduates and former staff
members, as well as other community
members, who provided information,
interviews, documents, and photographs.
“This exhibit has added immeasurably
to the great legacy of the Carver
building,” said Dr. Charles Haughey,
president of the Board of Education.
“Generations to come will benefit from
the recollections, experiences, and history
that are chronicled here.”
As an exciting outgrowth of the
project, the tremendous community response
has resulted in the creation of
an extensive archive of photographs,
documents, images of artifacts, and information
on Carver. In an agreement
with Peerless Rockville, which also
contributed to the exhibit, this archive
SUPERVISOR HUDGINS CELEBRATES WITH SENIORS AT RCC
Supervisor Hudgins addressed more than 150 seniors as they celebrated National Older Americans Month during
a Spanish Fiesta at the Reston Community Center recently. Patrons were delighted to receive opening remarks
from the Supervisor, who emphasized the importance of community events like Spanish Fiesta for a senior population
that now stands at 20 percent. Supervisor Hudgins noted, “Fairfax County and President Bush proclaimed May
2006 as Older Americans Month”.
Sponsored by RCC, Reston Association and Reston Hospital, seniors enjoyed a live performance by Latin Soul and
traditional Latin American dishes, received free blood pressure testing, cholesterol and diabetes screenings from Reston
Hospital Center. More than a dozen vendors provided information on programs for seniors including the Fairfax
County Agency on Aging, Graceful Care, Reston Association, Elder Hostel and AARP Dulles Chapter.
“Seniors are important to Greater Reston and we can serve them in many different capacities,” noted Shawnna
Hughes-Molina, RCC senior adult program director. “We’re pleased with the turnout and to have an opportunity to celebrate
with seniors in our community.”
The Reston Community Center enhances the quality of life for all people
living and working in Small Tax District 5 through recreational, educational,
social and cultural programs. For more information on programs and services,
call 703-476-4500.
Supervisor Hudgins and Gloria
Sussman at the RCC Senior Fiestal.
“CARVER: THE HEART OF A COMMUNITY” CHRONICLES
THE EXPERIENCES OF STUDENTS AND STAFF
Atable of attendees enjoying the RCC Senior Fiesta.
Attendees at the Carver opening ceremony view the multimedia exhibit in the Carver lobby.
Former Carver Principal Mabel D.Thomas, Class of 1954 member Warren G.Crutchfield,
and Superintendent Jerry D. Weast participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the
“Carver: The Heart of a Community” exhibit.
will be shared with the historical organization
to help ensure the preservation
and public availability of these
valuable materials for use by persons
conducting personal or scholarly research.
Peerless Rockville is located at
29 Courthouse Square, Rockville.
COUNTY
COUNCIL TOWN
HALL MEETING
The Montgomery County
Council will hold the
next in its continuing
series of Town Hall meetings on
Wednesday evening, June 14
at Herbert Hoover Middle
School, 8810 Post Oak Road in
Potomac.
The meeting will begin with
a reception at 7:30PM, followed
by an 8PM gathering. The Town
Hall meeting is free and open to
all. It will be televised at a later
date on County Cable Montgomery
television channel 6.
“We look forward to hearing
what’s on people’s minds—
the budget, transportation, public
safety, taxes, development
and growth, education, or
whatever,” said Council President
George Leventhal. “I encourage
everyone to come on
out and voice your concerns.”
Contact Patrick Lacefield,
240-777-7939 or Jean Arthur,
240-777-7934 for more information.
SUMMER MEALS
FOR KIDS
PROGRAM
While learning doesn’t
end when school lets
out, neither does the
need for good nutrition. Fairfax
County Department of Community
and Recreation Services has provided
free summer meals for kids
for more than 25 years. The Summer
Meals Program for Kids was
established to ensure that children
receive the same high quality
meals during school vacations that
they get in school cafeterias during
the school year. The Summer
Meals for Kids program begins on
Wednesday, June 21 and ends on
Friday, September 1, 2006. No
meals will be served on July 4.
Some program dates may vary.
Call the information number to
confirm specific program dates.
Breakfast is served from 8:30 to
9:30a.m. and lunch is served from
11:30 a.m. to 1:30p.m.
Countywide, there is great need
for the Summer Meals Program,
particularly in those areas of the
County with many children eligible
for free or reduced price school
meals. Historically the program
has served only about 18.5% of
these children in Virginia. (Summer
Food Services Program at
www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/
states/virginia/default.htm).
Last year, Fairfax County provided
more than 37,000 meals to children
during the summer.
Currently, CRS has 30 USDA
approved meals sites. “In order to
adequately serve the children in
Fairfax County who are eligible for
these meals, we need more meal
sites,” said Patricia Franckewitz,
director, Fairfax County Department
of Community and Recreation
Services. “Meals sites can
be located in a variety setting, including
recreation centers, playgrounds,
parks, churches, community
centers, day camps, housing
projects, migrant centers.” If your
organization is interested in seeing
that children in your community
get these meals, you can contact
CRS at 703-324-5646, TTY 711.
CRS staff will meet with you or
provide you with additional information.
How else can you help
If you are seeking a volunteer opportunity,
you can help serve meals
at a site, or you can help by telling
others about the Summer Meals
Program. Call the information
number listed to become a Summer
Meals volunteer.
The Department of Community
and Recreation Services provides
training and ongoing support to ensure
the success of the summer
meals sites. The USDA provides
the food at no cost. For more information
about the Summer Meals
Program for Kids or to find out if
you qualify for meals, you can contact
CRS at 703-324-5646, TTY
711 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.
gov/rec.
Eligibility for the Summer
Meals for Kids program is based
on USDA criteria and does not discriminate
because of race, color or
national origin, sex or a disability.
Special vegetarian meals are available
upon request.
THE METRO HERALD 5