El Paso Times from El Paso, Texas • 59

fBOdgSjjii 1 HELPING KIPS SUCCEED Having trouble expressing yourself? 1 Even after 25 years of marriage, Get ideas from famous love letters j4l clues to compatibility remain elusive tii Oxford seminars spellbind history students from around the worjd 1 El Paso Times Sunday Feb, 12, 1995 Features Editor Leticia Zamarripa, 546-6154 Section 2F School menus 3F Books 6F Travel' 8F Weddings BLACK HISTORY AmeriCop brin 'illppiiP The El Paso Times is recognizing an African-American teen every day during Black History Month. To nominate a teen, call 546-6397. best out of El Paso Isaiah Jones, 13 Jesus Chapel School, eighth grade. plflllcSjlHEiT I I I h- Accomplishments: Honor Roll. Texas Achievement of Private Parochial Schools participant Winner of National Piano Auditions, sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers, a division of the American College of Musicians.

Celebrate Youth performer at the University of New Mexico. What African-American historical figure has made the greatest Impact on your life? Dr. Martin Luther King, because he challenged our nation to rise about its prejudices and share his dream. I am determined to pursue my dream. BORDERLAND Victor Calzada El Paso Times Student to Europe: El Paso-an Audra Rae Cabral, a seventh grader at Walter E.

Volunteers worry GOP will ax national program By Ramon Renterla El Paso Times Juana Casas tutors South El Paso school children in a church gymnasium rattling with bouncing basketballs. "I don't want thuse children to give up," Casas said. "AU they need is a little push." Casas is a national service trooper working in her heigh- borhood with young people whose lives sometimes erode into failure, crime and hopelessness. For her efforts, Casas is paid a monthly stipend. She will earn $2,300 to help pay for college after completing 900 hours of community service.

But her dream of becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree could be derailed as Republican leadership in Congress looks for ways to bnl ance the federal government's budget. "I want to study law so I cun help my people," the 20-year-old El Paso Community College stu dent said. Republican leaders have suggested AmeriCorps. the Clinton administration's $500 million program that encourages young people to take part in national service, be eliminated to help finance other programs that -would be affected by a new tax cut. The program enlisted 20,000 members when it cranked up last summer.

"How can you call it volun-teerism when these government-created jobs are giving people better benefits than any of the working people out there ore receiving?" said Allison Griffin-spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, San Antonio. She added Bonilla, whose district reaches El Paso's outskirts. thinks it's "kind of a bobndog-' The service program challenges the government and communities to tap people's energy and idealism to make a difference.

If AmeriCorps were dismantled, five El Paso projects that involve coalitions of people would either be forced to cut services or would struggle without the federal U-V Bill Schlesinger supervise AmeriCorps teams in Project VI-DA, which provides health, literacy and other services to low-income families. Project efforts stretch from East Central El. Paso to the Lower Valley. "AmeriCorps is a fundamentally good program at thu grassroots level," Schlesinger said. "It gives people a way to do ac- Please see AmeriCorps 2F South El Paso volunteer David Romo, right and Jorge Olivas go over chess strategy.

They are participants in AmeriCorps' Alliance for Community Development project at Sacred Heart Church gym. Clarke Middle School, has been accepted to the 16-member El Paso delegation for the international student -J Cabral AmeriCorps volunteer Juana Casas helps Nancy Astorga with her homework as part of the Alliance for Community Development project at Sacred Heart Church gym. ambassador program, People to People. Cabral will share her overseas experiences with school and civic clubs upon her return. She is looking for assistance to pay for expenses.

Checks may be written to Clarke Middle School for Cabral. Information: 857-4350, 855-1038. Rose gardeners: The El Paso Rose Society will meet imfiiammaafll AmeriCorps Is a na- tional service program that helps communities meet critical needs in social services, the environment, education and public safety. In return, AmeriCorps members earn college tuition or money to repay student loans. Members are required to be U.S.

citizens or legal residents, at least 17 years old with a high school diploma or working on a substitute diploma. Texans filled 3,000 of the first 20.000 jobs created when AmeriCorps began last September. The Texas Commission for National and Community Service is accepting proposals through March 8 from programs seeking AmeriCorps funds. Information: (512) 463-1814. Victor Caluda El Paso Times at p.m today at the Garden Center, 3105 Grant.

Warner Blake will discuss the "dos and es. ty: Promoting citizenship through service. Expanding opportunities: Helps members increase their life and job skills while earning education grants up to $4,725. All 350 AmeriCorps programs nationwide share four basic elements: Getting things done: Achieving results in education, public safety, the environment and human servic Strengthening communities: Uniting diverse participants and groups to meet specific community needs. Encouraging responsibili Miller aonl8 01 rose Drun- ing.

Hands-on demonstrations El Paso teens compete for LULAC sweetheart title will be at 3 p.m. in tne ci Paso Municipal Rose Garden on Copia at Altura. Babe Miller is president of the society The event is free and open to the public. Information: 755-6178. Fund-raising brunch: The Assistance League of El Paso celebrates its 25th anniversary with a brunch and auction at noon Feb.

19 at the El Paso Marriott HoteL Proceeds fronrthe luncheon support the leagues philan Barrett Robles thropic projects including Operation School Bell and PASO apply for a scholarship. All area high school counselors have applications," Quiett said. Young women, between the ages of 15 and 18, interested in competing in the 1996 sweetheart ball also need not be Hispanic or a member of LULAC. Melissa Barrett, 18, is the 1994 LULAC Sweetheart. Sweetheart contestants this year are: Anglica Alferez, daughter of Ramona and Miguel Alferez.

Verena Aragon, daughter of Antoniette and Manuel Aragon. Jesse Arrieta, daughter of Yolanda and Mario Arrieta, Jeanelle Carden, daughter of Gloria Carden. Annette Casarez, daughter of Maria Dolores and Gabriel Casarez. Lira Dion, daughter of Canaan and Thomas Dion. Aimee Eugenio, daughter of Hermie and Honor Eugenio, Sally Hernandez, daughter of Esperanza and Jose Hernandez.

Monica daughter of Teresa and David Jacques, Marisa Limon, daughter of Lilia and Jose Limon. Christina Minjares, daughter of Mary Esther and Fernando Minjares. Emily Reyes, daughter of Rebecca and George Reyt Olivia Troye, daughter: of Marie and Raymond Mendoza. By Coco Ballew El Paso Times Belen Robles, the first El Pasoan and the first woman to serve as national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, will be honored at Saturday's LULAC Sweetheart Charity Ball. Robles was elected president last summer during the group's national convention in El Paso.

This year, the winner of the charity ball will receive a $1,000 scholarship a first for the 36-year-old event. "In thejpast.the winner's scholarship was only $500," said Melissa Jacques, brochure chairwoman and pageant co-chairwoman for the charity ball. If you go: Who's competing In LULAC's Charity Ball 2F Past winners often had their $500 scholarship matched with another $500 from the LULAC National Scholarship Foundation, depending on the winner's school grades. This year the national foundation already has matched the scholarship, guaranteeing a $1,000 award to the winner. The Sweetheart Charity Ball, LULAC's largest area fund-raiser, garnered $9,700 last year.

LULAC Council 335 used that money and matching funds from the National Scholarship Foundation to award 15 scholarships (Put a Smile On). Opportunity tickets for a 2-carat diamond tennis bracelet from Susan Eisen Jewelers are being sold. to area high school students. College-bound students may apply for a LULAC scholarship, worth between $200 and $1,000. "Scholarships are open to all El Paso students," said Rebecca Quiett, president of LULAC Council 335.

"You don't have to be Hispanic, or a member of LULAC, to Information: 584-9344, 533-5629. Send Items similar to those above to Community New9, P.O. Box 20. El Paso. Texas 79999.

Or call 546-6397; fax: 546-6415..