April 21-27, 2010
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Learning journey takes new paths at Plymouth Educational Center
Tomorrow’s Leaders:
Page B-3
Comerica Profile: LaCynthia Murray
A motivation to help others fuels her drive at work and in the community
By Scott Talley
Special to the Chronicle
Anyone who has attended a
community event sponsored by Comerica Bank in recent years has likely to have come across the smiling face of LaCynthia Murray.
Though she jokes about joining
the bank on Friday the 13th, her arrival on Oct. 13, 1989 has certainly been good fortune for many people throughout Comerica and Detroit.
“What I enjoy the most about
REASON TO CELEBRATE: School officials at Plymouth Educational Center report high marks and victories for students in and out of the classroom, including a successful debate team. For more information about debate programs in Detroit schools, please see B-10 story.
By Scott Talley
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Eighty children willingly stay-
ing after school for an academic activity, a fifth grader talking to classmates about a banking ac- count, and a basketball team where grade point averages are as important, if not more, than scoring averages.
This scenario may sound a
little different, but the staff at Plymouth Educational Center takes pride in its school being a bit different to fulfill its mis- sion to “nurture, motivate, edu- cate and elevate all students by promoting academic excellence and responsible citizenship.”
While being different is often
a tough sell to young people, the approach has worked for the public chartered school lo- cated at 1460 E. Forest, near Eastern Market.
The Academic Games team is the reigning Middle School
Division I state champion in “On-Words,” a word game involving spelling, counting, grammar, phonetics, word roots, inflectional endings, pre- fixes and suffixes; the in-school, student-run bank, a partnership with Comerica, has operated smoothly for four years serving grades 3-8; and the Plymouth Prep high school boys basket- ball, which consists of all 10th graders, compiled a 14-6 record and more impressive, 12 of the 13 student athletes have main- tained a 3.2 or higher grade point average since school started.
And that is just a short list of
the school’s scholastic accom- plishments.
“Those 80 students stay-
ing after school for Academic Games want to be there, they want to be a part of the pro- gram,” said interim assistant principal Alvercheal McConnell, who wears many hats around the school including serving as
one of the school’s Academic Games coaches and supervising the in-school bank.
“With everything we do we
want the students to understand responsibility. And with the extracurricular activities we tell them they have to be caught up with their class work, so that gets back to understanding re- sponsibility.”
Setting the tone at Plymouth
Educational Center is a man who also is a little different — Jessie Kilgore Jr., PhD.
A graduate of Fitzgerald El-
ementary School, Post Middle School and Cass Technical High School, class of 1987, Kilgore is a proud product of the Detroit Public Schools. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and enrolled in law school at the University of Maryland. How- ever, he determined that law was not his passion, enrolled in the College of Education at Wayne State University, and
Making A Difference
Voices heard, lives changed through InsideOut Literary Project
By Scott Talley
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
When Aijalon MClittle III
begins to talk about writing, there is a genuine reverence that comes through in his voice.
As the young man with the
unique name (and spelling) re- veals more about himself, the reason for his respectful tone becomes clear.
“Writing has helped me a
lot,” says MClittle, who also goes by AJ. “It saved my life actually. There weren’t any ac- tivities in my neighborhood and I found writing to be a beautiful thing.”
AJ found writing through the
InsideOut Literary Arts Project as a student at Mackenzie High School. Mackenzie was closed before AJ graduated, but by that time his love for writing and the program were deeply rooted.
And that is why there is no
place he would rather be on April 29 at 5:30 p.m., than the Detroit Federation of Teach- ers building (Grand Blvd. at the Lodge; 2875 West Grand Blvd.) where InsideOut will host a “Showcase for Success.”
This event will feature stu-
dent performances and panel discussions by teachers, students and parents about the impact of InsideOut, which places profes- sional creative writers as teach- ers and mentors in schools to engage K-12 students in the
and other community settings. “I think Terry just wants me
to tell my story about how the program helped me,” said AJ, who earned a 3.3 grade point average and a scholarship, during his first semester at East- ern Michigan.
“My intentions were not to
go to college. I actually was afraid to; I thought I wasn’t ready for the challenge. But InsideOut challenges you to be a better writer and a better human being.”
InsideOut is unique among
Aijalon MClittle
pleasure and power of poetry and literary self-expression.
The presenters also will share
the results of a recent evalua- tion demonstrating the power- ful effects that poetry can have on student growth and achieve- ment.
InsideOut was founded in
1995 by Terry Blackhawk, PhD, to place professional poets and fiction writers in Detroit schools to encourage young people’s imaginative writing and promote self-confi- dence and awareness through publicizing and celebrating their work. InsideOut is a founding member of WITSA (Writers in the Schools Alliance), a national group of literary arts organiza- tions that supports placing pro- fessional writers in long-term residencies in public schools
similar organizations across the country in that profession- ally printed literary magazines are created each year from the schools it serves. These publica- tions, which display students’ writing and art, develop student initiative and provide oppor- tunities to celebrate students’ creativity in schools and com- munities.
“InsideOut makes sure our
voices are heard,” said AJ, who is a frequent volunteer motiva- tional speaker, along with being a student, poet, songwriter, playwright, and budding actor.
“That’s not true of all orga-
nizations, but InsideOut makes sure our voices are heard and inspires teens to reach for great- ness and higher goals.
For more information on
InsideOut, please visit www.in- sideoutdetroit.org or call (313) 965- 5332.
the rest has been history com- mitted to inspiring and educat- ing Detroit youth.
At age 29 Kilgore was one
of the youngest principals in the state, when Plymouth Educa- tion Center offered him the po- sition and now as the school’s superintendent, he remains on the lookout for new opportuni- ties for his students.
“Exposing our students to
new opportunities has become a fabric of our school,” said Kilgore, now 40. “On the hori- zon is a lacrosse team. We had a camp here last year.
“We have a beautiful athletic
field that we like to take full ad- vantage, but you will never hear me talk about the need to win a game. I want our students to win the game of life.”
For additional information on
Plymouth Educational Center, please visit www.plymouthed. org.
my job is working with and meeting people,” said Murray, an administrative assistant in Comerica’s Corporate Com- pliance & Public Affairs department. “I’m a people person, so I enjoy conversing and working with people. It brings me joy when I can assist someone.”
In her position, Murray works
closely with Loretta Gary Smith and Louise Guyton, both well known throughout the city for their commitment to community causes.
“I couldn’t ask for a better group
of people to work with,” Murray said. “We are responsible for the management of community affairs activity in Michigan. Comerica is committed to reinvesting back into the community so we work closely with organizations and foundations to keep this commitment. We assist with providing educational programs, financial literacy and sponsorship for community events.”
Away from the office,
the proud Detroit native also maintains a hectic schedule with a strong emphasis on community service.
“I’m a member of Mt. Carmel
Missionary Baptist Church were my pastor is Rev. Dr. Marvin R. Youmans. At Mt. Carmel I work on the Scholarship & Education Committee, Mission & Outreach
LaCynthia Murray
department, Tape Ministry, Sister 2 Sister Ministry, Trustee Board and teach Sunday school and vacation Bible school.
“I also volunteer for Junior
Achievement, field trips at my son’s school and teach ‘Banking On Our Future’.”
Murray says faith and family
inspire her commitment to service.
“My first sources of
inspiration are my Father God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Without my Lord in my life I would have no life,” she said. “Of course my family is a huge inspiration to me as well. My son Travis is the reason why I push myself to keep going when I’m tired. I want him to be the best and have the best, therefore I must be that example for him.
And if Murray ever requires
more encouragement and inspiration, she needs to look no further than her parent’s example.
“In these days and times it is
rare to come from a family where the parents are still together,” she said. “My parents (Willie and Pearl Murray) have been married for 56 years and I’ve seen the good times and bad times with them. I understand what it means to be committed to someone. My values and ethics come from good stock.”
Detroit has long been known as a great jazz town. Celebrating its 10th season, Comerica Java & Jazz continues the tradition of providing a monthly after work concert series that showcases some of Detroit’s finest creative talent.
Performances are free and open to the public. For more information please call 313.833.4042
For over fifteen years this multi-talented native Detroiter has graced and domi- nated Michigan's most attended events. She has performed over two hundred shows a year with grace and stamina. Her voice is strong, commanding, melodic and smooth. She tells her stories with incred- ible delivery and leaves her audiences wanting more. Thornetta has opened for legendary blues and R&B greats such as
Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, and Smokey Robinson. It's clear that the Motor City knows just who Thornetta is and now it's time the rest of the world found out. So join us as we invite you out for a magical evening, we like to call Thornetta Live!
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