DATE: Sunday, October 5, 1997               TAG: 9710050093

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   56 lines

OUTREACH CENTER GETS A NEW LIFE; NSU STUDENTS PAINT WITH HEART

From the Brambleton Community Outreach Center, waves of Norfolk State University students took to the streets surrounding their school Saturday.

They painted a room at the center because they will tutor students there.

They painted the home of an older neighborhood resident.

They picked up litter along streets stretching from Park Avenue to Virginia Beach Boulevard to Brambleton Avenue.

They made a difference and showed their support to all who drove by and peeked out windows, according to Student Government President Emile C. Smith.

They did this because they believe there is a tangible difference to be made around this Norfolk center of learning - and because talk doesn't do anything but blow trash to another part of a street.

``There are a lot of problems here,'' Smith said. ``It's pretty obvious. There's a lot of drug trafficking. There's crime. Not a lot of opportunities for people.

``A lot of us come from economically challenged environments. If it wasn't for Norfolk State, we wouldn't go to college.''

After a morning litter patrol, the president joined jump-suited students attacking a house with ladders, paint brushes and fresh white paint.

Natasha T. Holloway, 21, scraped. Maleena Lawrence, 20, held a paint brush. They spoke of what a community center means to young people, and why neighborhoods need a heart.

``I think it starts with the community,'' Lawrence said. ``If your homes are not right, how can you go out and fix somebody else's?''

``After college,'' Holloway said, ``this is where we're coming to.''

So she was painting. Or about to paint. She held a clean brush.

``I'm about to get busy,'' she explained. ``Right now. Get some paint on it.''

``Go get that brush dirty,'' Kimya I. Howard, 21, told her.

Howard, who is majoring in biology, said this was the first time the student government had done something of this scope. She said students are looking to give more back to the neighborhood in future projects.

Derrick R. Dotson, 20, believes able-bodied young people should help make changes where they live. Leading by example, many of the volunteers called it.

``We may not have the money to do it,'' Dotson said. ``But we have the manpower.''

Timothy B. McDuffie, 24, agreed.

``This is to show that we care,'' he said. ``To show that we're not over there doing nothing. It helps beautify the community which surrounds us. It gives self pride, you know what I'm saying?''

We can do something with what he have, he added. Which is each other. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE

Dewayne Barton and Kisha Springs joined other Norfolk State

University students Saturday who say they believe they can make a

tangible difference, to show that they care, in the Brambleton

Community Outreach Center and surrounding area.

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