Sunday, August 19, 2012, our organization's Teen Pregnancy Prevention Leadership Program held it's 1st Prince & Princesses' "BELIEVE" Graduation Banquet & Fashion Show; at Fantasia Banquet Hall, 404 Washington Ave, North Haven, CT 06473 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., and it was wonderful. My two (2) beautiful daughters; Mrs. Escence A. Durkin, MBA - married 2007 & Mrs. Elysse A. Williams, business owner, married 2009 who are the inspiration /models for this program, were Crowned and Honored as the 1st officially Princesses of the program. Ladies Dad and I are so very proud of the young women that you have become and for "Staying the Course" of not becoming teen parents but waiting until you were presented with great husbands.
There were also eight (8) young teens who received their Engraved Commitment Rings; that stated 2012 MADF YB & True Love Waits; I Tim 4:12, Mr. Earl A. McCoy, Jr., (Youth Board - President), Ms. Markeda Jaynes (Youth Board Vice President), Ms. Terryan Barrett (YB Secretary & Youth Advocate), Ms. Kayla Willis (Youth Board - Treasurer), Ms. Teonni Barrett, Mr. Mehlahn Graham, Ms. Taniah Abraham, Ms. Tiana Grant. These rings were presented to each youth by his/her parent(s), guardian or a MADF member. Also, all the Princes/Princesses In Training (P.I.T.'s) were pinned with a dedication MADF Ribbon. Furthermore, there were three (3) graduates whom were crowned; Prince Leroy Jenkins, II (US Airman Air National Guard, Orange CT & Prince Lateef Alston (attending Gateway Community College; & Princess Terryan Barrett (attending Gateway Community College); all the Crowed Graduates from the program must graduate without becoming a teen parent, and attend college, an institute of higher learning or enter into the military).
Finally, four (4) Honorary Awards; one (1 )Gold Level; Ms. Ashley McDaniel (graduate from WCSU in 2011), two (2) Sliver Levels; Ms. Sobina Grant (attending CCSU - expected graduation 2014), Ms. Shanice Lucky (attending Branford Hall Career Institute) & one (1) Bronze Level Ms. Alicia Kinsler (attending Hamden High School & ACES Whitney High East - expected graduation 2013). Our Bronze Awardee was a special honor since this talented young lady has a disability but wants to pursue a music degree at SCSU. These young people were awarded Crowns, Plagues, Certificates of Appreciation, Engraved Rings, Various Monetary Amounts, Flowers, Ribbons and Gift Bags; and need-less-to-say the food was great! There was also over 60 participants that attended the Banquet; for which all the program youths, the graduates, and honorary awardess, head table guests, vendors and program participants attended the program at no cost! There was also one graduate who couldn't attend banquet; Ms. Ebony Bush and one honorary sliver award candidate Ms. Bri'Ana Pendergrass!
M.A.D.F., Inc., would like to thank our Keynote Speaker; Dinah O. Milton-Kinney, Esq., Elder Daren K. Cashjobe, Raymond Cash, Jr., singer Ms. Vicky LaFrazier, Spoken Word from Mr. Frank Brady, Mr. Pat Jones for running our power-point presentation/video, Photographer/Video; Mr. Ira Williams and a very special thanks to our secretary & youth coordinator Ms. Pamela Jaynez., Mrs. Elaine Smart who provided some of the youth with transportation, our Youth Board, who stepped in and did a wonderful job Praise Stepping and who were perfect young ladies & gentlemen, the Prince/Princess' In Training (P.I.T.'s), Ms. LaKysha Whitley who help organize our check-in table & hand-out programs, to my daughter Elysse & her husband Alex who traveled from Washington on Saturday to attend the Banquet (after picking her husband up from training in PA) ; for stepping in with little rest to lend a helping hand. And, finally, to the parents, family, friends, MHT Members and first lady Wright, who came out to demonstrate their commitment to our youth in the program, graduates and awardees; Earl & I can not express in words what it meant to us to see the out-pouring of love and support that you demonstrated at the Banquet and you looked beautiful in your "White Attire!" Thank you, thank you & remember True Love Waits - I Tim 4:12! Official pictures/video of the Banquet to be uploaded in about one (1) month!
