Argosy Citizenship Award Recognizes Club Teens for Community Service

The 2010 Argosy Citizenship Awards were presented by Boys & Girls Clubs Senior Director of Operations (back row left) and Argosy Foundation President Christopher Abele (back row center). Club members honored were (front row, left to right) Jocelyn Olevera, Moniqua Chisom, Monique Downing, Sadie Riley and Raymond Moore (back row right).

Thanks to the Argosy Foundation, six Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee members were saluted for their community activism and leadership as winners of the Argosy Citizenship Award.

The teens were honored recently in a ceremony prior to the East Town Association’s “Jazz in the Park” concert in Cathedral Square, located at 520 E. Wells St.

To be eligible for an Argosy Citizenship Award, Club members had to be at least 11 years old and, at most, a junior in high school. This year’s winners proposed a variety of service projects that range from addressing homelessness to encouraging more parental involvement in children’s lives. Each honoree will receive $500 to execute their project and $500 to spend on their education.

Moniqua Chisom, 16, is a member of the Augusta M. LaVarnway Boys & Girls Club. She wants to aid homeless members of the community by creating a meal service program and a drive to collect clothing and personal care items. Moniqua will enlist help from her Boys & Girls Club peers to identify and assist homeless individuals who live in near LaVarnway.

Monique Downing, 16, belongs to Mitchell School Boys & Girls Club. She will combine her love of dance with her desire to connect generations. Monique’s Argosy project involves giving formal dance instruction to Club members culminating in performances for senior citizen at the Southside 55+ Center.

Caprie King, 12, attends the Daniels-Mardak Boys & Girls Club. He believes parents are instrumental in helping their kids do well in school and at the Club. With his Argosy Citizenship Award, Caprie will coordinate activities that will engage families, foster better relationships and give parents access to resources to have positive, successful kids.

Raymond Moore, 14, attends the Don & Sallie Davis Boys & Girls Club. He will organize a conference aimed at youth ages 13 to 18 to address teen pregnancy and preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Following this event, Raymond will host a teen dance to benefit Hunger Task Force and Habitat for Humanity.

Jocelyn Olevera, 16, is a member of Audubon School Boys & Girls Club. She wants to implement a healthy living project. It will teach children how to eat the right foods and learn how to prevent obesity. Her topics will cover the importance of nutrition and exercise, and the risks and symptoms of obesity along with how to prevent it.

Sadie Riley, 16, belongs to Townsend Street School Boys & Girls Club. Her project, “Building a Dream” is a reading program aimed at Club members ages 9 to 12. Each week, members will gather to read and discuss a book about the life of Major Taylor a prominent African-American cyclist. Sadie will lead activities to help young members improve their language and comprehension skills. Upon completion of the book, Sadie will take Club kids to DreamBikes, located at 2021A N. Martin Luther King Dr., to apply what they learned about bikes from their reading.