Stuff Like That (Community Heros)

Nominate someone special in your community that you feel needs to be recognized for their positive efforts, services and/or their commitment to excellence. With all the negative news, Outside The BOXX would like to show special appreciation to these individuals for their positive influence in our society. Thank you, for doing "Stuff Like That."
Email your nominee(s) to: thecrew@outsidetheboxx.biz

Janice Summerhill

Teaching at least thirty years, Janice Summerhill is a SPACE teacher at Lakewood Elementary. Ms. Summerhill is also the public relations liason for the school. It's been stated that, "Ms. Summerhill raised and continues to raise money for the school tirelessly and continues to take learning to new heights."

Gladys Combre

Galdys is a Hurricane Katrina victim that has relocated to Huntsville, AL making it her home. Since relocating to the area, she is making a huge impact on the homeless and the elderly. Along with socialization, she and her organization visits nursing homes and delivers an array of items to all residents.

Mark McDaniel

Mark McDaniel is not only one of the best criminal defense lawyers in Huntsville, AL, he is honest, humble, and a good-hearted man. Giving back to different communities in Alabama, he purchased Jones Law School and donated it to Faulkner Christian University's criminal justice program to better students seeking education in a Christian University. Mr. McDaniel has been volunteering/teaching over the past 20 years at Faulkner and UAH. Making a significant impact in the lives of children, he made charitable contributions which allowed Congressman Bud Cramer to start the National Child Advocacy Center right here in Huntsville, AL. Mark McDaniel said it best, "When you do good, you have to give back".

Farid Mujahid

Farid is a Board Member for (AMEN) African-American Men Empowering a Nation, a mentorship organization that works with young boy's ages 9 thru 16. He also counsels and works with the youth at the Richard Showers Center and has been for the past 10 years. Mr. Mujahid also works with spring basketball, after school tutoring, and summer camp.

Melvin Scruggs

Melvin Scruggs is a well known volunteer in the city of Huntsville. Couseling all new board members, he is on Johnson High School's PTA Executive board; Volunteers for high school games to help out the PTA program; Volunteers for the North Alabama Jazz Association by arranging events locally and also volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.

Irene Davis Rodgers

Irene Davis Rodgers has been a fixture in the Terry Heights Community for Over 40 years. During this time she has fed, clothed, and mentored many people. She's ran an out of home daycare for over 35 years, and often kept kids at no charge. She's also taken in many children, raising them as her own. She is now 81 years of age, and going strong.

O'Brien Wherry

O'Brien Wherry is an Evangelist in addition to being a Recreational Aide for the city of Huntsville at Lakewood Community Center. He goes far and beyond to work with youth through tutoring, mentoring, and counseling on a daily basis. O'Brien also coaches six and under and ten and under basketball teams in the Continental League. He is the founder of the Terrier Organization that coaches young men 16 and under across the state of Alabama for AAU League. Mr. Wherry is also a Board Member for (AMEN) African-American Men Empowering a Nation. A mentorship organization to work with young boy's ages 9 thru 16.

Byron Poole

Byron Poole, a recruiter for High Tech Institute, goes well out of his way for his students. He helps each of his students personally by helping them find apartments, jobs, and even drives to Nashville to make sure everything goes well with the student aid process. There is no limit to what he is willing to do for his students, to make sure they have the best experience in getting educated. On top of that, Mr. Poole still finds time to be an "active" deacon at his church. He helps with the maintenance and participates in church plays to help the children.

Laurie McCaulley

PTA national board member, 2006-2008

Laurie McCaulley was elected in June 2006 to serve a two-year term as a member representative on the PTA National Board of Directors. She also serves as a member of the field service committee and is a Building Successful Partnerships presenter for the national PTA organization.

She previously served as national diversity committee chair.

McCaulley brings to the PTA National Board of Directors 23 years of PTA experience. She is president-elect of Alabama PTA, assuming the role of president in 2007. She has also served as vice president of membership development and services for Alabama PTA. In addition, McCaulley has represented PTA on the Alabama Department of Education Federal Programs Statewide Parent and Community Involvement Advisory Committee, the Governor's Congress on School Leadership, and numerous other committees.  She is an Alabama PTA honorary life member.

Lisa Washington

Lisa spends many hours in schools across the Tennessee Valley speaking and reading to students.  She also volunteers in a number of capacities including helping students read at Ridgecrest Elementary School . Lisa Washington is the spokesperson for the A-Team, an initiative that recognizes honor roll students at Huntsville Elementary schools.  As a board member of the Girl Scouts of North Alabama, she also emceed several events including Redstone Arsenal's Black History Month Celebration, Oakwood College/UNCF's annual scholarship gala luncheon, and the Blount Hospitality House of Fashion Show and Silent Auction, which did benefit Huntsville Hospital 's NICU.

Deacon Avries Farr of Hope Community Church

His practical and selfless approach in assisting Homeless and Drug Recovery candidates is awesome and inspiring.

Delivered from a life of drugs, homelessness and prison by the power of God, Deacon Avries was supported through the help of one man, Bishop Charles Rodgers, Sr. Pastor of Hope Community Church. This act of service did not go unnoticed and his program became the prototype for the "I Surrender Center", a transitional housing program facilitated by Deacon Farr in the city of Huntsville.

The I Surrender Center, houses five males and encompasses spiritual, practical and job assistance support.

"I just want to give back to others what the Lord gave back to me. My Life!" says Farr.

Minister Al Garrett is co-founder of the non-profit organization Youth Development Association, Inc, where he has served as Executive Director for 15 years. YDA conducts the Extraordinary Program that promotes the advancement of minorities, with a focus on development opportunities for youth. YDA seeks to foster quality education, diversity, culture and arts, community and citizenship responsibilities, AIDS awareness and family healthcare/fitness.

Rev Garrett is also director of the Garrett Tennis Academy, which serves all ages, but targets and offers tennis lessons to adults.

Arnecia Nicole Bradley was named Miss Black Alabama 2006-2007. She competed in the Miss Black USA pageant in June 2007 in Gambia, West Africa. Her platform is "Math and Science Literacy: Unlocking the Doors for Educational Opportunity." She volunteers for charitable organization including Girls, Incorporated and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the St. Luke M.B. Church Ministries. She also serves as an Ambassador for the Monster Inc.
Diversity Leadership Program where she will be speaking to upcoming college juniors and seniors about options after undergraduate school, personal finances, formatting a resume, and conducting a perfect interview.

Kenneth Anderson is a nationally certified counselor with twenty-five years of experience as a mental health provider in the Huntsville-Madison County community. In 1994, Kenneth started Maximum Life Enhancement, Inc., a management and educational consulting business promoting lectures, professional conferences and training seminars on topic including: student success, leadership development, cultural diversity and life management. Since 1990, he has been the host and producer of a weekly radio talk show called 2nd Chance heard every Sunday on WOCG, 90.1 FM, Oakwood College's radio station. The show explores a variety of contemporary issues related to the challenges of life.

Janice Isbell, founder of the Janice Mitchell Isbell Academy opened its doors in August 2001 to serve students with learning disabilities or who are performing below grade level. The students return to there private or public school ready and able to compete and succeed academically.

Isbell first started her volunteer efforts in education by changing her work schedule in order to tutor students at Johnson High School. Her mission is to "share my talents, knowledge, skills, and abilities to help others I meet along the way". In addition to teaching and tutoring, Isbell also continued her federal career at Redstone Arsenal.