MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Lee

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MS. BOBBI BARROWS UPON HER SELECTION FOR THE SERVICE TO MISSISSIPPI'S CHILDREN/YOUTH AWARD BY THE GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVE FOR VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE (GIVE) PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, Ms. Bobbi Barrows was nominated by the Picayune, Mississippi, School District and was selected as the recipient of the Service to Mississippi's Children/Youth Award by the Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Program; and

WHEREAS, she will be honored at the awards luncheon on May 4, 2000, in Jackson, Mississippi, where all program recipients and nominators will be recognized; and

WHEREAS, Bobbi Barrows is a literacy volunteer who has overcome her own reading difficulties and now helps children and adults become better readers; as part of a partnership with AmeriCorps, the Mississippi Department of Education and the Parenting Resource Center in Picayune, she is helping children with severe reading problems to improve their grades, adults to raise their reading levels, and parents to find ways to use reading and writing at home with their children; and

WHEREAS, as a child growing up, her greatest obstacle was learning to read; she struggled all of her academic career with reading; she eventually graduated from high school, but to do so she had to work diligently and use compensatory techniques; after graduation she continued her struggle, she married and her husband helped and encouraged her to read high interest material aloud to him; when she became a mother, she knew the value of reading aloud to them; and

WHEREAS, as part of a partnership with AmeriCorps, the Mississippi Department of Education and the Parenting Resource Center in Picayune, Mississippi, Ms. Barrows works Monday through Friday, serving 32 children at Nicholson Elementary School who have severe reading, writing and spelling difficulties; she works in five classes in a Title I Program for dyslexic children, she helps the children with one-on-one and small group tutoring; her efforts have had a positive impact in her classes. The grades of the children she works with have improved dramatically, and the children have moved up into higher level workbooks; teachers have written letters about their successes. All of the children have been pre-tested for participation in the program, and they will be post-tested at the end of the program; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her work during the school day, Ms. Barrows provides support to children as an after-school tutor; moreover, as part of her AmeriCorps service hours, she volunteers at the Parenting Resource Center each Monday and Wednesday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. She helps parents who come to the center by serving as a resource for ways they can use reading and writing at home to help their children become better readers. Without her volunteer efforts the center would not be able to remain open during these extended hours. This center serves the entire community; and

WHEREAS, since November 1, 1999, Bobbi has also initiated a literacy class for eight adults and she volunteers as the facilitator of the Project H.O.P.E. Program for people who face reading challenges, not unlike her own, using the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Literacy Program, a multi-sensory, intensive, systematic language-based approach to teaching reading, writing and spelling; and

WHEREAS, because of her personal struggles, she is a dynamic mentor, role model, and in some ways a hero to her students; she is truly changing lives; and

WHEREAS, on behalf of the citizens of Mississippi, it is with great pride that we recognize this dedicated citizen for her ongoing efforts and commitment to improving the lives of the people of the state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Ms. Bobbi Barrows upon her selection for the Service to Mississippi's Children/Youth Award by the Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Program, and wish this deserving volunteer continued success in her civic and personal endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Ms. Barrows and her family, and be made available to the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service and the Capitol Press Corps.