[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3639-H3640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REPORT FROM INDIANA: ``MOTIVATE OUR MINDS''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. McIntosh] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give my report from 
Indiana.
  In the Second District of Indiana, there are so many special people 
striving day and night to make a difference.
  These are good people doing good things. And today I rise to commend 
the volunteers at the ``Motivate Our Minds'' program in Muncie.
  These individuals, Mr. Speaker, are Hoosier heros. Hoosier heros 
because

[[Page H3640]]

they care about our community and care deeply about helping others.
  These heros reach out and lend a helping hand to at-risk 
schoolchildren.
  Motivate Our Minds--MOM's for short--is a very special organization 
in my hometown of Muncie.
  Mr. wife, Ruthie, visited the MOM's program just a few weeks ago. She 
shared with me the love and friendship the volunteers at the MOM 
program give to inner city schoolchildren.
  MOM's first started in 1987, when two women, Mary Dollison and 
Raushanah Shabazz (Ra-shanna sa-bez) opened up their home and went to 
work helping ``at risk'' schoolchildren.
  They knew in their hearts that the key to a bright future for a 
disadvantaged child is a strong and loving hand to guide them. Special 
children need motivators.
  Mary Dollison knew that when children feel good about themselves they 
do well in school. They become successful adults. and their contribute 
positively to their communities.
  MOM's has grown from helping 16 students tutored in Mary's home, to 
providing assistance for more than 69 at-risk students today on East 
Highland Street.
  Mom's teaches at-risk students: ``To think they can, until they know 
they can.'' Parent volunteers like, Lola McGregor, Ball State students, 
community leaders, parents, and the children can witness first hand 
young men and women striving to achieve new goals and forming new hopes 
and dreams for their own future.
  Dedicated volunteers, and the true Hoosier Heroes of the MOM's 
program. Volunteers, like Wilma Ferguson, a retired school teacher, 
gives her time and friendship every single week.
  Beth Quarles, the office manager, at the MOM program, has worked 
tirelessly to ensure that the program has the funds and the resources 
needed to keep the center growing. Frances Garrett makes sure that the 
students' school projects and their art work is displayed at the 
center.
  Mrs. McGregor has two daughters--LaRessa and LaNeice, who are 5th 
grade students enrolled in the program. Mrs. McGregor witnessed how the 
MOM program helped her own daughters and she decided to give something 
back. She is now one of the top volunteer at the MOM program.
  When I was young, I can remember my mom tacking my drawings and 
assignments to the refrigerator door--it was something so small, but it 
sure made me feel good, but you know, I took that for granted. Some of 
these children, have never had their work tacked up on the refrigerator 
door.
  But Frances Garrett makes sure their precious drawings, paintings, 
spelling tests, and high scored homework assignments are displayed.
  This is important to send a message that hard work and 
accomplishments are honored. Students leave MOM program knowing in 
their hearts that there is nothing they can't do.
  No task is too big. No challenge is too great. These dedicated young 
people are faced with amazing challenges but they never give up.
  A special gift that these young men and women have received, is 
something that I, too, learned at an early age: ``Always do your best, 
hard work will be rewarded and never, never give in.''
  Mr. Speaker, the volunteers and especially the children involved with 
the MOM program in Muncie, Indiana are Hoosier heroes. That is my 
report from Indiana. God bless.

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