Five honored for work with youth

Wed., May 17, 2006

From Staff Reports The Spokesman-Review

What would Spokane be without its Chase Youth Commission? Probably not one of the America’s Promise 100 best communities for young people.

Tuesday morning, two people who helped found the commission dedicated to empowering youth – Sheri Barnard and Carol Wendle – were honored at a “Breakfast of Champions” at the DoubleTree Hotel in Spokane.

The event was part of Red Wagon Week, a celebration of Spokane-area children and the community’s recognition by America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth.

In fall, the alliance named greater Spokane one of the nation’s top 100 communities for young people because of the community’s commitment to five promises: caring adults, safe places to learn and grow, a healthy start, effective education for marketable skills, and opportunities to help others.

Barnard spoke to the breakfast crowd of about 400 children and adults, including Mayor Dennis Hession and other elected officials, about the origin of the commission in 1985.

Barnard recalled how the late Mayor Jim Chase spoke to the City Council via video feed from his hospital bed in support of a resolution to form the commission that was to bear his name.

Also speaking Tuesday was former Chase Youth Commissioner P.J. Watters, who said if a community values youth, youth will value the community.

“The power of youth is not in what they will become,” Watters said, “but what they are now.”

Chase’s son, Roland, also was honored at the Breakfast of Champions, as well as “champions of youth” recipients Gary Livingston, chancellor of Community Colleges of Spokane, and state Sen. Lisa Brown. They are co-chairpersons of Spokane’s Promise Leadership Council.

The five honorees received awards designed to resemble a box of Wheaties with Chase’s face on it.

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