INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ❚ YOUR NEWSWEEKLY ❚ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2019 ❚ 3Y Quality Furniture & Interior Design Find your nearest showroom at baers.com LIVE BEAUTIFULLY 50% Off * *Savings based on Baer’s retail. Baer’s never sells at retail (MSRP). Community News VERO BEACH -- Although many of the students at the Gifford Youth Achieve- ment Center live on low or limited in- come resources, the Compassionate Ex- perience was a real look at stark poverty. The Compassionate Experience Inter- national’s mobile immersion education unit was located in the Masters Academy parking lot outside of the Pathway Church. Much like the Holocaust Mu- seum in Washington, D.C., the exhibit al- lows visitors to listen on headphones as they followed a person’s life and passed through several sections representing parts of two young children’s experienc- es. At this location, one was of a young girl from Uganda and the other from a boy in Bolivia. Each were desperately im- poverished and experienced many hard- ships including living in high crime, dan- gerous neighborhoods, abuse, no food and working from very young just to live. The two came through adversity to a positive life but the struggle and their faith have made them strong. GYAC stu- dents said that the experience was sad but also helped them realize how lucky there were to live in America and to un- derstand the difference between abject poverty and their lifestyles. The Gifford Youth Achievement Cen- ter attempts to broaden its students’ ho- rizons by taking them on field trips to colleges, forums, cultural outings and exhibits like the Compassion Experi- ence. It was a very eye-opening experi- ence for the students as well as adults on the tour especially when they heard about what it was like to not have any food at all to eat, or place to feel safe when they sleep. “Often times our students believe that they are less fortunate, when in fact they are not,” said the GYAC Guidance Coun- selor Carrie Williams. “Some families may have limited resources and not be able to buy the latest technological item or brand name shoes but the Compas- sion Experience proved to be humbling. I believe the experience will open their eyes and give them a sense of gratitude.” GYAC Dream Chasers humbled by Compassion Experience Christina Tascon YourNews contributor GYAC students gathered around an exhibit showing where a boy from Bolivia slept on a dirty floor as they listened to his story. CHRISTINA TASCON Isabella, a student at GYAC listens to her headset which told a story of a young girl from Uganda. CHRISTINA TASCON VERO BEACH -- United Way of Indi- an River County is looking for commu- nity members who would like to con- tribute knowledge and perspective to their community grant review proc- ess, known as the Citizen Review Pan- el. The goal of this annual process is to ensure that every United Way funded program is effective and efficient in ad- dressing priority needs in the commu- nity. Each year, United Way of Indian Riv- er County brings members of the com- munity together to make decisions on the funding for local programs. These volunteers are an essential element of understanding the impact and poten- tial that funding could provide to ap- plicants. Volunteers will serve on a panel that consists of a Panel Chair, Financial Analyst, and eight Associate Panelists. “The Citizen Review Process is how United Way invests in programs that will help solve identified community needs. It is a great way to learn about your community and the issues facing it. It also gives you a voice at the table to help facilitate change,” said United Way’s Director of Community Impact, Nate Bruckner. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, or if you would like more in- formation, contact Eve Ballance at 772-567-8900 or email eve.bal- [email protected]For more information about United Way or to give online, visit the website at UnitedWayIRC.org. United Way of Indian River County invites people to get involved by helping others. Go to VolunteerIndianRiverCounty.org to learn about local opportunities for ser- vice. United Way looking for citizen review volunteers Chance Morrow YourNews contributor Marsha Keller, Jeff Schlitt, Andrew Segal, Jo-Ann Copeland, Meg Cunningham, Meredith Egan, Judy Whittaker, and Tiffany Justice during the 2017 Citizen Review Panel training. CONTRIBUTED BY UNITED WAY OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Transcript
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ❚ YOUR NEWSWEEKLY ❚ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2019 ❚ 3Y
Quality Furniture & Interior Design
Find your nearest showroom at baers.comLIVE BEAUTIFULLY
50% Off **Savings based on Baer’s retail. Baer’s never sells at retail (MSRP).
Community News
VERO BEACH -- Although many of thestudents at the Gifford Youth Achieve-ment Center live on low or limited in-come resources, the Compassionate Ex-perience was a real look at stark poverty.
The Compassionate Experience Inter-national’s mobile immersion educationunit was located in the Masters Academyparking lot outside of the PathwayChurch. Much like the Holocaust Mu-seum in Washington, D.C., the exhibit al-lows visitors to listen on headphones asthey followed a person’s life and passedthrough several sections representingparts of two young children’s experienc-es.
At this location, one was of a younggirl from Uganda and the other from aboy in Bolivia. Each were desperately im-poverished and experienced many hard-ships including living in high crime, dan-gerous neighborhoods, abuse, no foodand working from very young just to live.
The two came through adversity to apositive life but the struggle and theirfaith have made them strong. GYAC stu-dents said that the experience was sad
but also helped them realize how luckythere were to live in America and to un-derstand the difference between abjectpoverty and their lifestyles.
The Gifford Youth Achievement Cen-
ter attempts to broaden its students’ ho-rizons by taking them on field trips tocolleges, forums, cultural outings andexhibits like the Compassion Experi-ence. It was a very eye-opening experi-
ence for the students as well as adults onthe tour especially when they heardabout what it was like to not have anyfood at all to eat, or place to feel safewhen they sleep.
“Often times our students believe thatthey are less fortunate, when in fact theyare not,” said the GYAC Guidance Coun-selor Carrie Williams. “Some familiesmay have limited resources and not beable to buy the latest technological itemor brand name shoes but the Compas-sion Experience proved to be humbling. Ibelieve the experience will open theireyes and give them a sense of gratitude.”
GYAC Dream Chasers humbled by Compassion ExperienceChristina TasconYourNews contributor
GYAC students gathered around an exhibit showing where a boy from Boliviaslept on a dirty floor as they listened to his story. CHRISTINA TASCON
Isabella, a student at GYAC listens toher headset which told a story of ayoung girl from Uganda. CHRISTINA TASCON
VERO BEACH -- United Way of Indi-an River County is looking for commu-nity members who would like to con-tribute knowledge and perspective totheir community grant review proc-ess, known as the Citizen Review Pan-el.
The goal of this annual process is toensure that every United Way fundedprogram is effective and efficient in ad-dressing priority needs in the commu-nity.
Each year, United Way of Indian Riv-
er County brings members of the com-munity together to make decisions onthe funding for local programs. Thesevolunteers are an essential element ofunderstanding the impact and poten-tial that funding could provide to ap-plicants.
Volunteers will serve on a panel thatconsists of a Panel Chair, FinancialAnalyst, and eight Associate Panelists.
“The Citizen Review Process is howUnited Way invests in programs thatwill help solve identified communityneeds. It is a great way to learn aboutyour community and the issues facingit. It also gives you a voice at the table
to help facilitate change,” said UnitedWay’s Director of Community Impact,Nate Bruckner.
If you are interested in serving as avolunteer, or if you would like more in-formation, contact Eve Ballance at772-567-8900 or email [email protected]
For more information about UnitedWay or to give online, visit the websiteat UnitedWayIRC.org. United Way ofIndian River County invites people toget involved by helping others. Go toVolunteerIndianRiverCounty.org tolearn about local opportunities for ser-vice.
United Way looking for citizen review volunteersChance MorrowYourNews contributor
Marsha Keller, Jeff Schlitt, AndrewSegal, Jo-Ann Copeland, MegCunningham, Meredith Egan, JudyWhittaker, and Tiffany Justice duringthe 2017 Citizen Review Panel training.CONTRIBUTED BY UNITED WAY OF INDIAN RIVER
COUNTY
10Y ❚ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2019 ❚ YOUR NEWSWEEKLY ❚ INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
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Entertainment News
VERO BEACH -- A Benefit for GiffordMiddle School’s Arts Program was heldlast month by Vero Beach Art Club.
Members of the Art Club participatedin a day of painting workshops called“PAINT for the KIDZ”. The workshopswere taught by VBAC art teachers XaqueGruber, and Dawn Mill.
Vero Beach Art Club’s event coordi-nator Patricia Padoll presented a checkfor $1,400 to Gifford Middle School’sPrincipal Tosha Jones, and art teacherStephen Brecher, along with XaqueGruber, and Dawn Mill.
Vero Beach Art Club presents $1,400check to Gifford Middle SchoolPatricia PadollYourNews contributor
Vero Beach Art Club's Xaque Gruber,Dawn Mill, and Patricia Padoll presenta check for $1,400 to Gifford MiddleSchool's principal Tosha Jones, and artteacher Stephen Brecher for their artsprogram. NICK BINGHIERI
VERO BEACH -- From playing amunchkin in a 2011 play to winning achoreography award eight years later,Arielle Reason found a life-long dreambefore she was old enough to attend thirdgrade.
Last month, the 15-year old went toAtlanta to accept a Freddie G Award forExcellent Student Choreography at the2019 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta atThe Cobb Galleria Centre.
She was one of approximately twodozen Riverside Children’s Theatre’s stu-dents among 6,600-plus students andeducators from 133 educational musicaltheater groups representing 28 states,Australia, China, New Zealand, and theU.K.
David Calahan and Reason also madeit to the call-back for future BroadwayJunior shoots for “how-to” choreographyvideos for soon-to-be released BroadwayJunior musicals. The shoots will be tapedin New York City this summer.
No one at GYAC is surprised by Rea-son’s achievements. She is bright andenergetic, maintaining Honor Societygrades even while she attends RCT class-es and rehearsals for many of its shows.
She credits much of her scholasticsuccess to the Gifford Youth Achieve-ment Center. She has attended GYACsince she was 4-years-old and was firstintroduced to “show-biz” when RiversideTheatre’s outreach groups performed
shows for the students.She had no idea that she might one
day be a cast member. When GYAC Exec-utive Director Angelia Perry was asked ifshe thought some of the small childrenmight like to audition as munchkins inThe Wiz, Arielle was the perfect-sizedcandidate.
She nailed her audition, then dancedand sang her way into an ensemble partonto the Riverside Children’s Theatrestage. That’s when she caught the actingbug and developed a love of performing.
She has taken ballet, jazz, singing andacting classes and auditioned for manyparts at the Children’s Theatre and thisyear she will be appearing on the mainstage in My Fair Lady. Reason’s parents,Annette and Vernon Reason, are proud
and supportive of her talent, but theyhave been sure to teach her about thepractical side of life as well.
She attended GYAC’s summer campevery year to prevent educational back-sliding and they stressed that her schoolwork could not suffer because of thetheater activities. Her plans include at-tending Florida State University to studylaw and criminal justice along with per-forming in theater.
“I always knew that someone was inmy corner at GYAC,” she said. “Theymade sure my homework was done andgave me any help I needed to get goodgrades. And if it hadn’t been for them, Iwould have not found Riverside Theatreand be doing something that I reallylove.”
GYAC student wins award in AtlantaChristina TasconYourNews contributor
Students from Riverside Children'sTheatre who attended the 2019 JuniorTheater Festival Atlanta. JAMES BARKER,
