THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506210179
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REBECCA A. MYERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
AT LEAST TWO DOZEN children showed up at the Swanson Homes community center Monday to watch the movie ``The Mighty Ducks.''
Dorita Epps, who organized the activity, not only knew each child by name, but she could actually differentiate individual voices.
``Demetrius, I'm tired of hearing you,'' she said to one restless youngster, her back turned to the group.
Soon all was quiet again.
``I find knowing their names helps a whole lot,'' whispered Epps, who lives by the belief that keeping children occupied keeps them out of trouble.
``When I see them doing wrong, I correct them by calling them by their names. If you walk by and say, `Boy, stop' or `Girl, stop,' they're not going to listen to you. But when they know that you know their name, know where they live, know their mother, they straighten out and I don't have any problem with them,'' she said.
Because of the work she does with children, Epps recently received the National Public Citizen of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers.
The award is presented annually to someone who is not a social worker but who has demonstrated significant contributions that are consistent with the values and mission of social work, said Rebecca Neale, member services coordinator of the organization.
``This is the first time that anyone in Virginia has won this award,'' she said.
The National Public Citizen of the Year Award has been given since 1973. Epps, who works as a developmental disability specialist with Southeastern Virginia Training Center in Chesapeake, was selected from a pool of about 15 candidates nationwide. She will be honored at a recognition luncheon in October during an annual conference of the NASW in Philadelphia.
Epps was first nominated for the award at the state level by Sandy Stipp, manager of the public housing complex.
``Basically, the award recognizes someone who's had a profound effect on the public community,'' said Stipp when Epps was named the statewide winner in March. ``She's made a visible difference.''
Sometimes called the ``Saint of Swanson Homes,'' Epps caters to the 100 or so children of the public housing community as though they were her own.
When she first moved into Swanson Homes five years ago, Epps witnessed a child being used in a drug transaction between adults. She immediately saw a need to get kids off the streets and involved in organized activities.
So she started an after-school tutorial program, organized numerous sports teams and field trips and turned the recreation center into just that.
The center, located at Des Moines Avenue and South Street, is filled with board games, puzzles and athletic equipment. The walls are covered with inspirational sayings and photos of past field trips and activities.
``If you don't give them something to do, they'll be out there getting into trouble,'' said Epps, the mother of two adult children. ``We keep them busy.''
The photographs on the wall testify to that. One set of prints shows a group of kids bowling at Pinboy's, while another shows a skating party at a local roller rink. Photos taken outside the center show children jumping rope, pitching horseshoes and bouncing up and down on a discarded mattress on the playground. Adorning another wall are shots of baseball teams and karate classes.
In one little corner of the recreation center, Epps has numerous mementos of her own achievements: plaques, certificates of appreciation, framed letters and medals.
Prior to receiving the public citizen awards, Epps was most recently recognized by The Volunteer Connection of South Hampton Roads as one of 16 individuals honored for outstanding volunteer service.
In February, she received the Community Service Award from the Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals.
Last July, Epps was one of five national recipients of the Jefferson Award, given annually to recognize the country's most extraordinary volunteers.
``I guess as long as I keep doing things, people will continue to recognize me, which is fine,'' said Epps, ``but regardless of whether anybody recognizes me or not, our children are at stake, and I'm going to continue to try to help them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Dorita Epps has received the National Public Citizen of the Year
Award from the National Association of Social Workers. She works at
the Southeastern Virginia Training Center.
by CNB