section c
Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2010
Clorox, Pine Sol, P.O.W.E.R. Organization,
help youth succeed with math
By F. Carlton Peeples
The Clorox Company and Pine Sol are partnering with the
P.O.W.E.R. (Presenting Opportunities, Winning Effectual Re-
sults) Organization to support high quality, out-of-school math
programs for Metro Detroit youth and their families through a
grant and national media recognition. Through its partnership
with The Clorox Company and Pine Sol, P.O.W.E.R. has pur-
chased a portable computer lab expanding its Mathematical
Monday’s series for youth in grades three to nine in both Detroit
and Pontiac.
“Through the use of sports as a theme we break down math-
ematics to help kids understand,” said LaToniya A. Jones,
P.O.W.E.R.’s founder and executive director. “We use the sta-
tistics to teach the children whatever it is they need.”
Presenting the information utilizing team sports as exam-
ples, P.O.W.E.R. students are exposed to the teams they love
most, including the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Lions, and the
Detroit Red Wings. Everything from player stats to the basic
game play is creatively incorporated. Even golf becomes fun for
kids through an innovative partnership. P.O.W.E.R.’s annual
Mathematical Mondays sport series is hosted each spring on
the links.
“My daughter was enrolled in last year’s program,” said
Verena Fane, Oak Park resident and involved parent. “She’s
studied rates, ratios, proportions and fractions. And the pro-
gram encourages youth to look at stats to convert the informa-
tion. They’re taught the basic concepts and principals to help
them create and change fractions to decimals.”
On the course children put together their own story prob- P.o.W.e.R. stUDents at the New Rogell Golf course.
lems by making mathematical connections through the use Programs (Weekend Challeng-
of their surroundings. This spring the partnership will assist es, Family Math & Tech Affairs,
students with geometry and measurements in partnership with
and Urban Math Focus Groups),
Mason Golf, owned and operated by Lindsey L. Mason III, at the Annual Math Mini-Career Con-
New Rogell Golf Course on Detroit’s west side, on Berg Rd. at W. ferences, and Summer Math
Seven Mile Rd.
Camps (Back2School-Math
In support of her commitment, leadership and efforts to
Games).
improve math literacy, Jones will be featured in the Powerful
The organization offers
Women series of Essence magazine. The Clorox Company and
summer math camps for youth
Pine Sol initially acknowledged the P.O.W.E.R. Organization
entering grades three to nine,
with similar support during the 2009 Sister Speak Luncheon
in which students participate in
tour in this past June and later in Ebony magazine.
a two-and-a-half week, full day
“Toni has worked tirelessly to advocate for strong partner-
camp (June/August) that allows
ships that provide affordable and free programs where kids and
them to engage in team building
their families learn math, oftentimes together, in a fun way,”
activities via academic/physical
said Edmond Douglas, board president of the P.O.W.E..R. Orga-
competition on interest-based
nization. “Awards such as this make all our efforts worthwhile
math challenges; work inde-
and will go a long way in helping fund additional programs for
pendently to improve individual
the children and families whom POWER targets.”
math skills; and have an over-
night (one to three days) camp
P.O.W.E.R. partners with colleges, churches, businesses
experience in a traditional camp
and community groups to provide customized programs where
setting.
youth learn in multi-age, multi-ability level groups. The organi-
zation’s programs are unique in their scope and accessibility,
Open enrollment for the pro-
currently operating throughout Southeastern Michigan.
grams including the camp is
available. Parents and students
“P.O.W.E.R. continues to evolve as parents and children
can contact P.O.W.E.R. Organi-
share ways that our programs are making a major difference
zation to learn more at 313-415-
in their school work and daily lives,” said Jones. “We feel for-
8575, follow and tweet them at
tunate to be in a position to help excite and meet the needs of
www.twitter.com/POWERORG-
youth and families with math. This honor and partnership with
math or send an e-mail to info@
The Clorox-Pine Sol company is helping P.O.W.E.R. fulfill our
powertheyouth.org, or www.
vision of working collectively to strengthen and celebrate the
powertheyouth.org.
many untapped skills and talents of youth.”
tHe P.o.W.e.R. organization tackles math in a traditional classroom setting.
P.O.W.E.R.’s additional focus includes Math Enrichment
Manny Harris: ‘Do Everything Kid’
King’s Adams stuck in middle
By Leland Stein III
Former Redford High star leads Big Ten in scoring
Former Martin Luther King
High School star Anthony
Adams is now a seven-year
veteran of the NFL wars. And
ANN ARBOR — The University of
wars it is for anyone that finds
Michigan is on the path of regenerating
himself stuck in the middle
its noteworthy basketball program.
of a defense with over 2,400
Behind the elevation the UM basketball
pound of flesh pushing, slug-
fortunes is Detroiter Manny Harris from
ging, grabbing, biting, snorting
Redford High School. The Wolverines’
and pulling all around you.
junior guard is the linchpin for Michigan’s
Well, at 6-foot, and 310
NCAA Tournament hopes in the 2009-10
pound he is well suited to hold
season.
his own in the middle of any
Case in point: last week the Wolverines
NFL defense.
battled No. 13 Purdue in West Lafayette,
Indiana and Harris was suspended for one
Adams, 29, in the Lions
game for an act of unsportsmanlike con-
last regular season game at
duct during practice and had to watch as
Ford Field, just concluded his FoRmeR KinG High player
his Wolverines lost and important game
seventh year battling big NFL Anthony Adams. – LaKeisha
59-59.
offensive linemen in front of a
Harvey photo
gallery of family and friends.
Michigan proved the game just before
team and very committed
the Purdue contest that it could compete
He just finished his third
coaches and players. We lost
with the best in the nation as it beat na-
year with the Chicago Bears,
some tough games we could
tionally ranked University of Connecticut,
playing in all 16 games. He
just as easily have won.”
a team that made it to the Final Four in
said he was very happy to be in
Adams said playing against
Detroit last year. That victory over UConn
Chicago and he has one more
had all thinking, dreaming that the Wol-
BiG ten leading scorer Manny Harris drives to the basket. – Dan Graschuck photo
the Lions is always strange.
year left on his contract, that
verines were finally getting it all together
look for his own shot all the time, but he As an Academic All-Big Ten player, he hopes they honor.
“I’m a fan of the Lions when
for their crucial run through the Big Ten.
tries hard to get everyone involved in the Harris knows how to use his guile and
we are not playing against
“We are very happy with An-
game.” skill to get his team and himself to the
them,” he said. “Although I
“ T h a t
thony, “said Bears head coach
really like Chicago, I’m a De-
win over
Added head coach John Beilein: “What
next level. He noted that it is painful for
Lovie Smith. “Since he’s been
troiter through and through.”
UConn
I admire most about him is that he has
him to look at the Public School League’s
here he has always given us a
gave us
grown so much as a person and player.
box scores and not see Redford High in
very good effort. We’d love to
One memorable thing
a lot of
He has a great opportunity if he contin-
the mix.
have him back next year be-
Adams did not mention was
c o n f i -
ues to grow as a player and person.” “It is like my school never existed,” he cause he gives us depth and
during Super Bowl XL in De-
dence,”
The intensity that leads to a person
said. “I’ll never get over the fact that they experience on the defensive
troit, he was a big part of the
H a r r i s
being an elite player can also be the thing
closed Redford High.” line.”
Read Across America Program
said. “I
and gave a pair of Super Bowl
that gets one in trouble, because they With Coach Derrick McDowell at the Adams said the Bears and
t h i n k
tickets and an autographed
want all to produce and perform at a high helm, Harris led Redford to the Class A Smith have been feeling a lot
we are
jersey to the top two students
level. regional finals of State Championships; of heat from the Chicago press
starting
of Youthville, an after-school
to jell
Harris is leading the Big Ten in scoring
they lost in the championship game. and fans following the team’s
program for inner city kids.
In the Game
and we
with 19.2 points per game. He had played
However, he was selected as Michigan’s 7-9 record. Imagine if the
should
in 85 straight games for the Wolverines
Mr. Basketball and he also won the PSL Lions produced a 7-9 record:
Adams entered the league
By Leland Stein III
be good
before his suspension.
City title twice while at Redford. Detroit would have a parade
as a second-round selection
down Woodard for them. The
(57th overall) by San Francis-
for the
The 2009-10 All-Big Ten First Team
“The PSL is one of the best leagues in
expectations for the Bears is
co in the 2003 NFL Draft. He
rest of
and All-American is playing at a level that
the country,” he said. “It is physical and
elevated because they recent-
tussled in the middle of the
the season. I’m not sure what has went
has many wondering if he will return for
defensive.”
ly made it to the 2007 Super
49er’s defense the first four
wrong this year, especially after we played
his senior year. Harris also credits the LeBron James Bowl; they lost to Tony Dungy
years of his career (2003-06).
well in the NCAA’s and had a big win in
the tournament last year. Maybe our pre-
“I want to make to be an NBA player!”
Skills Academy with taking him to anoth- and the Indianapolis Colts.
He acknowledged that because
he does not fit the cookie-
season ranking was too high or maybe
exclaimed Harris. “Who would not want
er level. The 20 college players in atten-
“Smith is a great coach,”
cutter size he has always had
we have not lived up to the ranking. I do
the opportunity to play the game they
dance split into four teams for full-court
Adams said. “No matter, the
to work extra hard to prove
know that we practice hard every day and
love and get paid for it? But right now I’m
scrimmages following three full days of
media in Chicago is ridicu-
himself.
we put in the effort.”
completely focused on getting this team
instructional workouts and an evening of
lous at times; they are all over
into the NCAA Tournament.”
scrimmages with James and company.
him. You never know what the
Adams acknowledged, “The
It is a little puzzling that Michigan is
playing .500 basketball and is under .500
To get to the level of an NBA player
“I’m not saying I’m as good as LeBron future holds in professional
profile is you have to be 6’3” or
in Big Ten Conference play.
will require a lot of work and effort from
or Kobe,” Harris said, “but the things sports. So I control what I can.
6’4”. Someone told me at the
Harris.
I learned watching them and going to I stay in shape and continue to
combine when I was coming
The loss to Purdue surely showed how
camps has made me a better player and work on my technique.”
out of Penn State, that if I was
important Harris is to the Wolverines
“I need to work on everything,” he said. person.” bigger I would be a first round
effort of the court.
“I want to improve my defense, dribbling,
He said the Bears are get-
pick. I’ve been proving them
mid-range jumper and shooting. That is
Michigan’s “Do Everything Kid” is the ting as much heat as the
wrong every since. This is my
“Manny is a great player,” senior for-
not to say that I can’t do any of these
centerpiece of the Wolverines run at a Lions.
seventh year in the league.”
ward DeShawn Sims said. “He’s our ‘Do
things, but to be the best player I can be
NCAA Tournament berth.
“I don’t know what went
Everything Kid.’ He plays all facets of
Leland Stein can be reached
I need to consistently work on improving Leland Stein can be reached at lel- wrong this year,” Adams won-
the game and is a team player. He could
at lelstein3@aol.com.
my game.” stein3@aol.com. dered aloud. “We have a good
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