THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 21, 1996 TAG: 9610210057
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 71 lines
Taking her cue from President Clinton and Bob Dole, Luanne Levy will use a joke to crack the ice of political rhetoric when she steps up to the podium Nov. 7.
``I'm going to tell them to please only take two pieces of chicken,'' said Levy, 40, who hopes to sit on the board of directors of Hope House Foundation's Pathways To The Community project.
``All great speeches start out with a joke,'' said Christine Rice, Pathways coordinator.
Hope House is a Norfolk non-profit organization that provides support services to Norfolk and Chesapeake residents who have mental retardation. The innovative Pathways project, in its second year, pairs volunteers and mentally disabled people in order to help them better integrate into the community.
Levy was honing the speech she'll give before the upcoming election when she was suddenly gripped by fear.
``Somebody will have to be up there with me,'' she said, looking expectantly toward her volunteer helpmate, Brandy Bowen.
``I'll be with you,'' Bowen quickly assured her.
Bowen is one of 27 people who volunteer their time to be one-on-one mentors for Hope House participants. More than 100 developmentally disabled people are members of Pathways To The Community, and more volunteers are needed.
The upcoming Pathways election is the first step toward realizing the goal of establishing the organization as a community group, said Rice. Levy is vying with six other Hope House participants for three seats on the board, and six volunteers are competing for three other spots.
The Pathways pilot project was made possible last year by a grant from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. Rice expects the group will eventually become self-sustaining.
``It's one way to build links to places and people,'' said Rice. ``Everyone has a right to a community life.''
Hope House Foundation is one of 68 local agencies that get funding from The United Way of Hampton Roads. Last year, Hope House received more than $9,000 from United Way, whose annual campaign is in progress and halfway toward achieving its goal of $15.3 million.
Pathways is one of a number of Hope House projects made possible, in part, by United Way funds.
Matthew Levy, Luanne's husband of one year, says he sometimes resents that his wife gets to go places with her mentor. Matthew, 42, doesn't have a Pathways partner yet.
Today, he's wearing a plastic yellow ``hard hat'' and hopes to someday realize his employment goal of a job in construction. He's proud of his recent volunteer work on a Habitat for Humanity home.
Karen LaBonte is mentor for Pathways' only two adolescents. She frequently includes her Hope House partners in family activities.
``These things seem small, but they make a big difference,'' said LaBonte.
Luanne Levy's other ideas for Pathways include a possible field trip to a local farm.
``Make a copy of that paper,'' she tells Bowen, who is perusing a flier about the farm. ``We'll check it out, and if it's good, we could take them there.''
``If I can help them in some way, I'll be glad to,'' says Levy, making a mental list of her election enticements. ``I'll be a good officer.''
``It sounds like it's going to be a great speech,'' said Rice. ILLUSTRATION: BETH BERGMAN
The Virginian-Pilot
Luanne Levy, far right, is running for a Pathways To The Community
board seat with the help of Hope House volunteers Brandy Bowen,
seated at center, and Karen LaBonte.
VP Graphic
KEYWORDS: UNITED WAY by CNB