The first article has already been done for you! I just provided it for your understanding of the assignment.
Florida Teen Honored for Saving the Life of a Police Officer Who Was Arresting Him
Matt AgoristJanuary 14, 2015
A Florida teen was honored by Fort Lauderdale police on Tuesday after his quick decision helped to save the life of a police officer who was arresting him.Jamal Rutledge, 17, was handcuffed and sitting in the Fort Lauderdale police booking facility on Sept. 10, a few feet away from a desk where Officer Franklin Foulks was doing paperwork.In avideo released by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Foulks is seen processing Rutledge on charges of violation of probation for criminal mischief and burglary.At the 37:50 mark in the video, Foulks begins to collapse off of his seat and rolls onto the floor.Only a few seconds pass before Rutledge gets up to check on the officer and immediately determines him to be in distress.The handcuffed Rutledge then began kicking the security fence and yelling for help in an effort to alert other officers in the area.Within a few minutes, Rutledge’s attempts to notify officers were received, three other officers arrived to find Foulks semiconscious, clenching his chest.According to the Sun-Sentinel,Sgt. Todd Bunin called Fire Rescue and then began to remove Foulks’ police gear and cut off his shirt, Greenlaw said.Officers Robert Norvis and Raymond Ketchmark overheard Bunin’s radio transmission and arrived to assist.Norvis began performing CPR on Foulks while Ketchmark grabbed a nearby defibrillator to begin stimulating Foulks’ heart.Foulks was then taken to Broward Health Medical Center.Broward Health medical staff noted that Rutledge’s action and the quick response of officers were critical to Foulks’ survival.Rutledge, along with the three other officers involved in saving Foulks’ life will be officially honored on Jan. 21 at a city commission meeting.This story should serve as an example of why we shouldn’t immediately jump to judge people. Just because a person hits some speed bumps in their life doesn’t exclude them from being a well-meaning person at heart.
Zoe Regains Control of Her Life
My name is Zoe (not her real name) I’m 20 years old and my son Daniel (not real name) is 18 months and we live in York Region. I found out I was pregnant at 18.Before I became pregnant I was an average teenager. My responsibilities consisted of my part-time job and that was about it. My friends and partying were at the top of my priority list and school and family were kind of far in the distance. I had a boyfriend that I had planned to be with forever. We had gone out together for almost two years when I became pregnant. Instantly my world turned upside down. I was shocked but I hoped things would be OK.I told one of my friends and then I told my boyfriend. Once he realized what it takes to have a child he didn’t want the responsibility. We fought over my decision to keep the baby for about 6 months. Once he finally realized the baby was coming we stopped talking. To this day I still don’t have any contact with him. He has never met our son Daniel and doesn’t pay child support.That is why I am so thankful for the Rose Of Sharon because I don’t know where I’d be today. Rose of Sharon is a Catholic Charities member agency that since 1985 has been providing support and educational services to prenatal and parenting young women under the age of 25 across York Region.Rose of Sharon is the only agency providing these services in the region and the need for our services continues to grow each year. It has given young mothers the opportunity to work towards their goals in a supportive, learning-centered environment while parenting their young children."I came to Rose of Sharon when I was about 6 months along in my pregnancy," says Zoe. I spoke to one of the Counsellors there and she gave me great advice. I will never forget some of the amazing programs I was able to attend at Rose of Sharon."Rose of Sharon programs like ABC Prenatal program helped her prepare for when Daniel was born; the Mom 'n Me and Parenting Groups help young women learn to become great Moms; Healthy Relationships help young women understand better what they should be looking for in a long-term relationship."The budgeting workshops and using Rosie’s Closet where I found baby food and clothing really helped me," says Zoe. "The Young Mothers Outreach Program really helped me find support right in my community." These programs also help Zoe and other young Moms realize that they are not the only ones going through these things.Zoe enrolled in the high school program at Rose of Sharon, starting in September 2011. "I immediately felt like I was starting to take control of my life again." Daniel was three months old when school began. "It felt great because while I was in the classroom or attending a group or parenting program, I knew that he was being well taken care of in the Child Development Center."I am striving to become the best parent and provider I can be for my son," says Zoe. "I am happy now and my life is great. I am thankful every day for all the people in my life: my family, Rose of Sharon staff, and all who supported me along the way. You have not only touched mine and my son’s life but so many others."Thanks to Rose of Sharon, Zoe graduated in June 2013, earning her high school diploma. She is currently working part-time as a childcare worker and she planned to attend college.
A Recipe for a New Start
When his mom passed away, Rob was struck with the realization that life is too short to waste. Even though he had grown up in foster care after being taken from his parents, Rob kept in touch with his mother. Her death was "turning point" in his life."I couldn't even tell you how many homes I've lived in," says the 21-year-old soft-spoken Vancouver native. A year ago, he was trying to live on his own, working at a string of jobs that included washing dishes in restaurants. He struggled to get by after "aging-out" of the B.C. child welfare system at 19. A high school drop-out, Rob says he quit but expected he was going to get thrown out because he often got into fights -- the instability in his life fueling his anger.Determined to make a new start, Rob came to Toronto on his own. He got a job and by the summer he had a place to live. Yet, he found it almost impossible to keep his place on the wages he got from his low paying job. Within a few months, he was back on the street again and alone in an unfamiliar city with nowhere to go.
He heard about Covenant House, went there and found shelter. A Catholic Charities member agency, Covenant House sees its mission as one that recognizes God's providence and fidelity to His people and is dedicated to living out His covenant among ourselves and those children and youth that they serve, protecting and safeguarding them.
For Rob, he not only found a safe place to stay with food and clothing, he also became involved in Covenant House's culinary skills training program and soon discovered his talent for cooking. The program where he is excelling has given him direction and a goal.
"I want to become a chef one day," Rob says with confidence. His plan will include working, apprenticing and continuing his studies at a cooking school.He's also moved to Covenant House's longer-term housing program, Rights of Passage (ROP) where he can live for the next year while he pursues his ambition. "I feel that ROP is a great stepping stone and that I'll have a better chance at success," Rob says. "Now I feel motivated and optimistic. I'm in a lot better place than I was when I arrived here."
Making a Difference in the Lives of Deaf Families
Silent Voice Canada continues to make a difference in the lives of deaf families and individuals in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and has been doing so since 1975. Thanks to a corps of dedicated staff and volunteers, Silent Voice is the only organization in the GTA offering community and family-based support to deaf children and adults in American Sign Language (ASL). A member agency of Catholic Charities, Silent Voice is grounded in Catholic values, respecting the dignity and worth of all people.
Silent Voice offers the deaf community a wide variety of services. It provides social and recreational programs in ASL for deaf children and hearing family members. Since improving communications between the deaf and the hearing members of their family is a primary goal of Silent Voice, it helps hearing family members learn ASL.
Together with other organizations, it provides special assistance and outreach services to disadvantaged deaf adults. Through a tax clinic for deaf adults who earn below $20,000 annually, Silent Voice helps them complete their tax returns, which for a deaf adult can be frustrating, miss benefits and in the end be very costly. If a low-income deaf adult were to try to acquire the professional assistance to help them complete their tax returns, the cost could be close to $200. Through Silent Voice, the cost is only just over $80.Through its summer camps for deaf children, it fosters in them a sense of responsibility and respect toward the community. It also works to instill a level of confidence that will allow them to cope with the non-deaf world. Silent Voice believes that confidence helps a deaf child make wise choices as they grow.While there are a lot of parenting courses and books out there, the focus on hearing children and parents.
The mother of a deaf child explains what a tremendous help Silent Voice was for her:"When I became a new mother, I found it very hard to access resources. Courses were expensive and inaccessible. The material wasn't designed for deaf parents who use a signed language like ASL. Silent Voice offered accessible parenting courses and I could access community resources because interpreting had been put in place. Information was adapted to meet my needs, for example, I learned where to buy a baby monitor – one where lights, not sound, would signal that my baby was awake or crying.
"I'm thrilled Silent Voice offers an accessible parenting program in its Deaf Adult Services. I've gained so much more confidence and have learned about bonding and communication, behavior and discipline. I met some wonderful people who I continue to see. I hope they can offer this program for a long time."
Another mother said one-on-one support from a support worker for her son allowed him to go to the Silent Voice summer camp.
"This was his first year and it was incredible! He came home happy and full of life. Most summers he has been very isolated here with me. He has had no opportunities to socialize with kids his own age. Sadly, most don't bother with him. At camp though, he was so happy to be with others who shared the same culture and language. It was so wonderful for him to have that chance at a good and happy summer filled with activities and events and other kids! I can't say thanks enough to Silent Voice."