【TCPALM】Dasie Hope Center students get letter, photographs from Michelle Obama

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Dasie Hope Center students get letter, photographs from Michelle Obama
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/may/16/dasie-hope-center-youngsters-get-letter-photograph/

By Debbie Batteiger    Saturday, May 16, 2009



WABASSO — At the mention of Malia Obama’s name, Jalen Green smiled from ear to ear.

Jalen, a 10-year-old student at Pelican Island Elementary in Sebastian, shyly admitted he likes the 10-year-old daughter of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. At the Dasie Hope Center in Wabasso, where he attends an after-school program, it seems he is not alone.

He is one of 18 students who wrote letters to the First Family in the hopes of learning more about Malia and Sasha Obama, 7.

Verna Wright, executive director at the center, said when the students learned the girls were close to their ages — between 8 and 10 — they wanted to communicate with them.

Teachers Kathy Curro and Lillian Stanford asked students to write the letters by hand then type them on a computer as an FCAT Writes exercise and for fun.

Austin Colston, a 10-year-old student at Pelican Island Elementary, wrote his letter and included a map.

“I remember I asked them if it was fun to live in the White House and I hope they can come visit us here, so I put our address so they’d know how to get here,” Austin said.

Wright said she helped Austin with the map.

“He asked me about the trees on the corner so he could put it on the map,” she said.

About two weeks ago, in an pile of daily mail, the words “White House” caught Wright’s eye.

“We were so excited that Mrs. Obama wrote the students back,” Wright said. “They’re still talking about it.”

The students received a letter and two signed photographs — one of President Obama and another of the First Lady. All three are framed and hanging in the center.

She said the girls in particular relate to Malia and Sasha.

“As they get older, they will see them as role models. Right now, they feel as though they are growing up with them and can live in the White House one day, just as Malia and Sasha are doing.” she said.

Wright said the center is planning a trip to Washington, D.C., and they are planning to raise money to get there. Although still in the planning stages, Wright said she is confident they will go in the next year and the students will have a hand in the fundraising efforts.

The Obamas represent that anything is possible, Wright said.