Spotlight
Stephanie Rivers
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
My name is Stephanie Rivers.
I am an alumni and employee of the Christian Activity Center. I am the second oldest of 4 children and we were all members. I started hanging out at the Center when I was around 5, and the center as I remembered was the place to be. The only place everyone seemed to want to be. The center kids, that’s what we called ourselves, would always stand around before the doors opened, trying to get the staff to open up early. We were excited, even though we had only two rooms then and a small playground. We looked forward to Bible Study, praise and worship, and ping pong tournaments. There were always people there for us, whether they were summer missionaries, church groups, or the directors. They gave us a welcoming feeling, advice, encouragement, hugs, or even dinner after long night talks with the summer missionary that lived at the Center. It was always a safe haven, homely when your own home didn’t feel so homely. What I can’t remember was ever being turned away.
Like a lot of our children who attend the Center, I was a child who grew up in the Gompers Housing Projects that surrounds the Center. I’ve experienced living in a family with drug abuse and some neglect. That’s not saying all of the children are or have experienced these ordeals, but a lot have or still do. Since I have lived in such a household, I believe that generational curses are real, but thank God for Grace and Mercy, and for an older sister who made me see that there was more to life than what we saw. We were both teenage mothers. Time and time again she would say our situation didn’t have to determine who or what we would become. She meant business and I knew it when she kicked my butt all the way to school a lot of days, when I wanted to quit – all the way up to my graduation. She graduated and chose college, I graduated and chose the work world. I still look up to her. Today she is a college graduate with a bachelors and masters degree in business, a mother of 4, and an alumni and employee of the CAC.
I’m not sure if Chet remembers this, but I will never forget him telling me that my life wasn’t over because I was a young mother and that anything I dreamed of doing could still be done. To this day Chet still encourages me and gives advice when I ask. After 20 years, when I say “Can we talk” Chet always lends his ear no matter how long or how personal. He gives me problem solving answers. Chet has always been the father figure that every young lady should have and every young man needs. I’ve been around long enough to see at least 4 directors, Chet and Michelle included, and no disrespect to any previous director, but there has never been and I can’t imagine there ever being a director like Chet. Chet and his wife Michelle have been there for us and with us even we didn’t expect them to. There are so many of our staff that model what Chet and Michelle have been to those of us who grew up there and continuously encourage and show love and attention to the children at the Center today. I teach my children what I learned from Chet and some of the missionaries that life is about the choices you make and anything is achievable if you are willing to work hard at whatever you want to do in life. Opportunities are out there, but we can’t be afraid to fail. I am constantly repeating that to my children.
Today, I am blessed to be married to one of Fairview Height’s finest police officers. He is a wonderful husband and a wonderful dad. HE is the wind beneath my wings. My husband enjoys volunteering and spending time with the children at our Center. Although I was a teenage mother, I never regretted it. I don’t believe God makes mistakes, but all things do happen for a reason. I am the mother of 5, my oldest is now a freshman in college. So together we want to raise them to be hard workers, kind hearted, cheerful givers, and to share the gifts and talents that God has blessed them with, even when they are at the Center. I don’t claim to have perfect children, by far, and I definitely won’t claim that it is easy, but I will say that I appreciate and thank the CAC staff for investing in the lives of my children.
– Tawana, Roger, and Ronald for all the computer software skills my children now know.
– Melissa for cheerleading, acting, and Girl Talk, which was definitely necessary then for me, and now for my girls.
– Tony and Clay for Tae Kwan Do.
– Archie, given the title “Uncle Archie” by my 5 kids, for being such a wonderful big brother and role model to my son.
– Kendra and Mike for helping my children to stay focused and maintain their high averages that my husband and I are so proud of.
– Drew who shares an office with my 5 year old, and is her best friend in the whole world, for all the answers to the biblical questions that my children have – that I certainly can’t answer.
– Mr. Oliver who day by day has managed to lift the self esteem of my oldest daughter and make her smile quite often. And for anybody who knows Ebony – that’s a hard thing to do.
Those are a few of the things my children are involved in, there is more to the Center and it is all necessary. If I thought about where I would be had the Center not been there for me, and my children, I’d honestly tell you – that I’d probably be down the same road as some of my family members. (those generational curses again)
I am thankful that God put the right people in the right places for me. I am also glad to have the desire and patience to love other children, to encourage them, to make them smile, and to be a part the CAC staff who are all wonderful, in case the rest of you think I left you out.
Most people need coffee to get them going in the morning, my coffee is looking forward to seeing Willie Bee at my desk when I arrive – with that kind of smile that lets me know my day will be adventurous. And like Archie has earned his title with my children, Willie Bee has always been like an uncle to me. AND he absolutely has to sit on the side of me everyday…all day.
Some of you may have heard what it is said that time does. Well, it’s said that time flies, time marches on, time heals all wounds, time runs out, and time will tell. Time also brings about a change-changes in things and in people. So, if you’ve never visited us or the kids at the Center, come see what even a small amount of your time does for a kid…and don’t forget to bring a smile.
Like a lot of our children who attend the Center, I was a child who grew up in the Gompers Housing Projects that surrounds the Center. I’ve experienced living in a family with drug abuse and some neglect. That’s not saying all of the children are or have experienced these ordeals, but a lot have or still do. Since I have lived in such a household, I believe that generational curses are real, but thank God for Grace and Mercy, and for an older sister who made me see that there was more to life than what we saw. We were both teenage mothers. Time and time again she would say our situation didn’t have to determine who or what we would become. She meant business and I knew it when she kicked my butt all the way to school a lot of days, when I wanted to quit – all the way up to my graduation. She graduated and chose college, I graduated and chose the work world. I still look up to her. Today she is a college graduate with a bachelors and masters degree in business, a mother of 4, and an alumni and employee of the CAC.
I’m not sure if Chet remembers this, but I will never forget him telling me that my life wasn’t over because I was a young mother and that anything I dreamed of doing could still be done. To this day Chet still encourages me and gives advice when I ask. After 20 years, when I say “Can we talk” Chet always lends his ear no matter how long or how personal. He gives me problem solving answers. Chet has always been the father figure that every young lady should have and every young man needs. I’ve been around long enough to see at least 4 directors, Chet and Michelle included, and no disrespect to any previous director, but there has never been and I can’t imagine there ever being a director like Chet. Chet and his wife Michelle have been there for us and with us even we didn’t expect them to. There are so many of our staff that model what Chet and Michelle have been to those of us who grew up there and continuously encourage and show love and attention to the children at the Center today. I teach my children what I learned from Chet and some of the missionaries that life is about the choices you make and anything is achievable if you are willing to work hard at whatever you want to do in life. Opportunities are out there, but we can’t be afraid to fail. I am constantly repeating that to my children.
Today, I am blessed to be married to one of Fairview Height’s finest police officers. He is a wonderful husband and a wonderful dad. HE is the wind beneath my wings. My husband enjoys volunteering and spending time with the children at our Center. Although I was a teenage mother, I never regretted it. I don’t believe God makes mistakes, but all things do happen for a reason. I am the mother of 5, my oldest is now a freshman in college. So together we want to raise them to be hard workers, kind hearted, cheerful givers, and to share the gifts and talents that God has blessed them with, even when they are at the Center. I don’t claim to have perfect children, by far, and I definitely won’t claim that it is easy, but I will say that I appreciate and thank the CAC staff for investing in the lives of my children.
– Tawana, Roger, and Ronald for all the computer software skills my children now know.
– Melissa for cheerleading, acting, and Girl Talk, which was definitely necessary then for me, and now for my girls.
– Tony and Clay for Tae Kwan Do.
– Archie, given the title “Uncle Archie” by my 5 kids, for being such a wonderful big brother and role model to my son.
– Kendra and Mike for helping my children to stay focused and maintain their high averages that my husband and I are so proud of.
– Drew who shares an office with my 5 year old, and is her best friend in the whole world, for all the answers to the biblical questions that my children have – that I certainly can’t answer.
– Mr. Oliver who day by day has managed to lift the self esteem of my oldest daughter and make her smile quite often. And for anybody who knows Ebony – that’s a hard thing to do.
Those are a few of the things my children are involved in, there is more to the Center and it is all necessary. If I thought about where I would be had the Center not been there for me, and my children, I’d honestly tell you – that I’d probably be down the same road as some of my family members. (those generational curses again)
I am thankful that God put the right people in the right places for me. I am also glad to have the desire and patience to love other children, to encourage them, to make them smile, and to be a part the CAC staff who are all wonderful, in case the rest of you think I left you out.
Most people need coffee to get them going in the morning, my coffee is looking forward to seeing Willie Bee at my desk when I arrive – with that kind of smile that lets me know my day will be adventurous. And like Archie has earned his title with my children, Willie Bee has always been like an uncle to me. AND he absolutely has to sit on the side of me everyday…all day.
Some of you may have heard what it is said that time does. Well, it’s said that time flies, time marches on, time heals all wounds, time runs out, and time will tell. Time also brings about a change-changes in things and in people. So, if you’ve never visited us or the kids at the Center, come see what even a small amount of your time does for a kid…and don’t forget to bring a smile.
Tweety the Sweety
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Tweety's future goals are to be a professional martial artist, travel the world, continue to be a humanist, and to have fun!!! Tweety says if there is a professional job to have fun - he would take it!
His plans after highschool are to go to MIT or Tokyo University. Tweety is currently working to go to college overseas. Tweety explains, "I love coming to the Center for Martial Arts and to help kids out. I like to give advice and teach people." The Center is blessed to have such a kind, polite, and influential servant.