Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/68725
We are one. We are many. We celebrate our heroes, past, present and future W e remembered giants like Louis Redding and Littleton Mitchell. We remembered all those people that DSEA has honored over the past 27 years, some who are legends, like Sen. Herman Holloway, Sr., and others - just as important - whose names may be unfamiliar, like our own Amy Reed, Norman Poole and Joel Glazier, who are heroes nonetheless. This year, under the direction of its Human and Civil Rights Task Force, DSEA honored two people as recipients of DSEA's Human and Civil Rights Award for a lifetime of work helping people achieve their potential: The Rev. John G. Moore, Sr. of This year's Human and Civil Rights Awardees are the Rev. John G. Moore, Sr. , who spends countless hours in schools giving students hope and inspiration with his story; and Jessie Chen, a reading specialist at Lombardy E.S. in Brandywine and hero in the Chinese-American community. "They all had dreams and so do We" was conceived by students at the Kent Community School and tied for third place in the Grades 9-12 Art Contest. Dover, sr. vice president of the United Way and youth pastor at Cavalry Baptist Church, and Jessie Chen, a reading specialist at Lombardy Elementary School in Brandywine. John Moore is vice president of Resource Development and Strategic Partnerships for the United Way of Delaware. He is also senior youth pastor at the Cavalry Baptist Church in Dover. By telling the story of his own path from poverty, he has helped hundreds of young people find hope in their often desperate lives. Moore often does several assemblies in a day in schools, detention centers and pris- Emma Polite, a 9th grader at Lake Forest H.S., placed second in the High School division of the Art Contest with this pen and ink draw- ing of Martin Luther King, Jr. embracing the Washington Monument. ons. He is also sought-after to deliv- er Martin Luther King, Jr. speech- es, also to remember this American icon. He has devoted his life's work to telling his story where there is even one person who believes there is no path forward. Like Martin Luther King, Jr., he tries to "inspire hope in people who feel hopeless." Jessie Chen was nominated by the Delaware Chinese American Association for her selfless volun- teer work helping Chinese and Chinese-American families with school-related questions and issues. She gives seminars to newly-immi- grated families to explain school policies, rules, how to become involved, and the importance of voting in school board elections and referenda. She also translates for families during school conferences, and described as a hero in the Chinese-American community. In addition to family and friends, on hand to honor these giants and our talented students were several dignitaries: Gov. Jack Markell, Lt. Gov. Matt Denn, State Auditor Tom Wagner, Carleton E. Carey, Sr., mayor of Dover and Denise Mayles from the Insurance Commissioner's Office. Also present were several school principals, Merv Dougherty, superintendent of Red Clay, and Matt Burrows, superintendent of the Appoquinimink School District. Gov. Jack Markell stops by for a few minutes to congratulate Jessie Chen and John Moore, and to admire the student art- work on display. Carleton Carey, major of Dover, who came to honor his friend John Moore, meets DSEA President Frederika Jenner. 6 May/June 2012 DSEA ACTION! www.dsea.org