Seniors Christine Fortier and Danyelle Parris are two Oxford High School DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) Club members hoping for a spot at the June national competition in Anaheim, California.
But their ambitious civic consciousness project is much more far-reaching than their west coast goal.
For the past year, in a collaborative effort of the whole DECA club, Fortier and Parris have worked hard to personally touch the hearts and minds of more than 40 abused and neglected children in the Nurturing Program at Oakland County CARE House.
‘We wanted to do something that would directly affect kids in our own community,? said Parris, adding most DECA club civic consciousness projects are focused on money rather than touching lives.
‘We wanted people to see what their money was going toward,? Parris added. ‘Most groups just write a check and that’s it.?
DECA teacher Steve Ruch admitted the Civic Consciousness program is one of the tougher DECA projects and is quite impressed with the girls efforts toward it’s success.
‘At times this year, the girls have had to work very hard to get the entire school involved and on the band wagon? he said. ‘They did great. While other kids took the summer vacation, Fortier and Parris (worked on the project).?
Parris and Fortier’s civil consciousness project was to create an Oxford student volunteer and awareness program geared toward helping abused and neglected children.
Oxford DECA students made weekly visits to the CARE House Nurturing Program and volunteered their time there.
Student volunteers organized parties, arts and craft sessions, prize giveaways, and worked individually with children ages 4-11 at the CARE House. ‘The biggest motivator was to be able to connect and form a bond with these kids who were happy to see us and hugged us when we left,? said Parris. ‘We hope they were just as moved as we were.?
‘You could just see the difference in us being there,? Fortier added. ‘That’s what motivated us to be there.?
The goal of the volunteers was to help develop self-esteem and promote positive attitudes and respect for others by establishing caring relationships between student volunteers and CARE House children.
To fund their student volunteer program, Parris and Fortier chaired fund-raiser projects including establishing a donation brochure booth at the Woodward Dream Cruise, sponsoring golf outings, organizing guest speakers and selling child abuse awareness bracelets etched with the group’s slogan ‘Speak Up?.
The group raised $1,500 for CARE House.
Fortier and Parris will present their success civic consciousness project to judges at the upcoming state DECA Leadership Conference in Dearborn March 11-13.