THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160714
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD may seem too big for any one person to make a difference. But with a combination of faith, tenacity and persistence, Evelyn Etheridge has shown that in at least one case one woman can.
Etheridge, of the Lake Taylor area of Norfolk, is the founder and director of Community Development of Hampton Roads, an organization that sponsors forums on problems facing young people today, such as drug abuse, teen pregnancy and dropping out of school. She also conducts a Job Fair each May, bringing together young people, local businesses, the armed forces and colleges.
In addition, she is a volunteer consultant with Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads Inc. and is an adviser at the Coronado School, an alternative school for pregnant teens.
Recently, Etheridge, an employee of JCPenney at Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach, was recognized for her work by being named the Grand Award Winner of the 1995 James Cash Penney Award for Education. In September, she was flown to Dallas to receive the award, which included a $10,000 grant to be used expressly to continue her work.
She also was honored by the Norfolk City Council during its meeting Tuesday and was presented the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award. In addition, she will be featured on an upcoming segment of ABC-TV's ``Prime Time Live'' news magazine show.
As nice as all the attention is, Etheridge said that she gets her real rewards from seeing the impact she has made on the lives of the teens on whose behalf she works. She estimates that she has helped about 400 teens get jobs since she started the Community Development of Hampton Roads organization.
Etheridge said she was called by the Lord to do what she is doing.
``I felt there was a need to take care of young people,'' she said. ``So I asked the Lord to direct me on what he wanted me to do.''
She said she initially contacted the FBI, the police department, judges and local politicians, and said, ``I want to help.''
She also went to her pastor, Dr. Raymond Dean at Mount Gilead Baptist Church, and asked him if she could hold community forums at the church. During these forums, she invites young people and their parents to listen to police and FBI officers speak about drug abuse and crime. Other forums have covered topics such as teen pregnancy, AIDS and the Literacy Passport Test.
Through these talks Etheridge hopes to instill in young people that ``knowledge is power.''
Helping Etheridge with her work are her daughters, Tracy Lyles, Robbie Matthews and Pearl Byrd. She also gets support at home from her husband, James.
She said her volunteer work is ``like having another full-time job.'' She said she spends about 100 hours a month on her efforts, but she feels it is all worth it.
``There are some talented young people out there,'' she said. ``Something has to be done to help them.'' MEMO: If you know someone that you feel is deserving of a Thumbs Up! feature,
call Vicki Lewis at 446-2286.
ILLUSTRATION: Evelyn Etheridge receives the 1995 James Cash Penney Award for
Education in Dallas from J.E. Oesterriecher, CEO of J.C. Penney Co.
Inc.
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
Community Development of Hampton Roads will sponsor its next forum,
"Dare to be Different", 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at W.W. Houston
Memorial Boys and Girls Club, 3402 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk. The
public is invited.
by CNB