COVINGTON GIRL'S LETTER TO OBAMA NOW PART OF BOOK

by Michael Monks

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Na'Dreya Lattimore, 11
Image via Good Things Going Around

She was the darling of local media last summer when President Obama, while speaking before the National Urban Leage, read part of a letter from Covington's Na'Dreya Lattimore. Now the entire letter is part of a new book that's getting lots of critical praise, called Ten Letters: Stories Americans Tell Their President. The Covington Independent Schools student's story for the President was on education. From the President's speech:

I got a letter recently postmarked Covington, Kentucky.  It was from Na'Dreya Lattimore, 10 years old -- about the same age as Sasha.  And she told me about how her school had closed, so she had enrolled in another. Then she had bumped up against other barriers to what she felt was her potential.  So Na'Dreya was explaining to me how we need to improve our education system. She closed by saying this: "One more thing," she said.  (Laughter.)  It was a long letter.  (Laughter.)  "You need to look at us differently.  We are not black, we're not white, biracial, Hispanic, Asian, or any other nationality."  No, she wrote -– "We are the future."  (Applause.) 

Na'Dreya, you are right.  And that's why I will keep fighting to lead us out of this storm. 

In addition to the book honor, Na'Dreya, a student now at Holmes Middle School, was recently recognized as a "Kid of Character" by the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. I doubt that this is the last we'll hear from this rising young leader. (She's only 11!)
Recent interview with Na'Dreya here: FOX 19
Original story from last summer here: WCPO
New profile of Na'Dreya here: Good Things Going Around
Get book here: Amazon
Interview with the author: WBUR/NPR
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OTHER NOTES FROM COVINGTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS:

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MODELING CLUB HONORED FOR SERVICE

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Holmes HS Illusion Modeling Club
Image via CIPS Facebook

 

From the district's Facebook page:

"The Holmes High School Illusion Modeling Club, under the direction of Ms. Yvonne Burkart, received recognition from the Women's Crisis Center during the recent Day of Peace celebration. The Club donated $600 to the Women's Crisis Center to support children's issues there. The money was raised selling Club calendars."

 

 

 

 

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BOARD MEMBERS RECOGNIZED FOR VOLUNTEER EFFORTS

Covington Board of Education members Jerry Avery and Mike Fitzgerald were honored by OASIS, Inc (Offering Assistance Sustenance Information & Support), a faith-based agency in Covington's Eastside neighborhood. Avery was awarded the Friends of OASIS honor for work in the Eastside such as cleaning, repairing, painting and beuatifying. Avery also spoke out at a recent city commission meeting on behalf of residents concerned about police layoffs.

Fitzgerald was honored with the Director's Award for his donations of Christmas gifts to OASIS during the holiday season.

SEE ALSO: OASIS, Inc.

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MENTOR ONE STUDENT, CHANGE TWO LIVES

Shortly after the school year began, I sat down to speak with Superintendent Lynda Jackson. "We've been blessed with community involvement," Jackson said. "We have over two hundred mentors. 'Mentor a student, change two lives' is what we say here. We need more mentors, more people that are willing to take an hour a week to help a child. We need more citizens engaged."

SEE ALSO: Covington Independent Public Schools

SEE ALSO: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Covington-Independent-Public-Schools/167701516573412