Fort Bend Independent School District NEWS RELEASE FROM COMMUNITY RELATIONS Keryn Miles, Communications Specialist keryn.miles@fortbendisd.com    281.634.1100

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Fort Bend ISD Student Leadership Program Completes Workshop on Community Service

FORT BEND ISD ― Student participants of Fort Bend ISD’s Junior Student Leadership Program experienced several teachable moments as they took part in their second seminar of the year focusing on Leadership in Community Volunteerism. FBISD Board Member, Sonal Bhuchar, hosted the session and led students on a venture that left many committed to giving back to their community.

The group’s first trip was to the CASA House. The leadership class met with program directors and volunteers representing Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Children’s Advocacy Center and the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, who explained the services and programs available to help volunteers advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children, and to help spread public awareness of the problem of child abuse and neglect.

The leadership class also took part in an exercise that revealed the multiple roles taken on by volunteers assigned to child abuse cases. Students read prepared dialogue based on a mock child welfare case involving abused children and the individuals involved in assisting the children.

“The activity helped me realize that there are kids out there that I possibly know who are going through painful experiences with their families,” said Arielle Tan of Hightower High School. “I feel so thankful for the supportive family I have and feel encouraged to help children in need, because every child deserves a good future.”

Following the CASA House tour, the leadership class traveled to Bethel Ministries in Stafford to meet with Carolyn Tarver and Becky Torres. Tarver shared the story of how she created Project Smile following the loss of her only son. Tarver turned her grief into something positive for less-fortunate children. Together, she and Torres help lead a team of volunteers who provide gifts, food items and educational services for children and families in need of assistance.

“This session offered students a wonderful opportunity to become engaged in observing various aspects of community service,” said Bhuchar. “We all perceive ourselves as members of a community, no matter how large or small. In order to be a leader, you have to learn how to give back and be a part of the community from a very grassroots level. The best way to do that is to be able to offer your services and talents. Hopefully, our leadership group was able to take something away from this session that will lead them to make positive contributions to the community.”

After their field trip, the leadership class took part in a Strengths Finder lesson led by Dr. Olwen Herron, FBISD Chief Accountability and Organizational Development Officer; and Beth Martinez, FBISD Director of Organizational Development. The Strengths Finder lessons will help students discover and build on their strengths and leadership abilities.

The next session will focus on Leadership in the Judicial System and the Juvenile Detention Program.

Photo 1: Shown at the CASA House are (from left to right) Sonal Bhuchar, FBISD Board Member, Lynda Ruther, Junior Student Leadership Program Facilitator; leadership students Irfan Vastani (Progressive High School), Shahana Momin and Chelsea Manuel (Marshall High School); Betty Baitland, Exchange Club of Sugar Land President; and Shirley Brown, CASA volunteer.

Photo 2: Pictured with Carolyn Tarver of Project Smile (second from left) are leadership students (from left) Bindu Upadhyaya (Kempner High School), Gerald Ruiz (Marshall High School), and Jason Chern (Bush High School).

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