2012 ROPP Graduation Weekend

ROPP Graduation Weekend was full and rewarding. On Saturday, candidates completed their final challenges of the year: Preparing a meal, learning some sewing and ironing basics and participating in a financial literacy workshop led by the neighborhood Wells Fargo branch manager. Everyone agreed that the brunch was delicious! Omelettes, french toast, potatoes o'brien, fresh fruit, sausage, bacon and Canadian ham, hot coffee, orange juice and fresh squeezed lemonade!

The next day, the candidates' graduation was marked by a ceremony during the 10AM worship hour. Graduates received gift bags with a load of goodies and their year in ROPP was complete.

ROPP graduates are eligible to be invited to serve as Jr. Mentors for future ROPP candidates. More

information will be provided as this new aspect of the ROPP program is developed!

ROPP I GRADUATES:

DIANTE ORTIZ

D'WAZAUHN WASHINGTON

IMANI ROSS

JABARI DAVIS

KAYLAN HENDERSON

QUINCY BROWN

CONGRATULATIONS ROPP I!! YOU DID IT!!

 

 

 

  





WRAPPING UP ROPP I !!

What a year it has been!
The last couple of months have been consumed with adjusting to major changes in the life of our church and end-of-year activities, but the 2011-2012 year has been an awesome and exciting year for all us ROPP-ites!

Hey, do you remember:
- Visiting the mosque and the Catholic church?
- Memorizing our own Apostle's Creed?
- Hearing the real deal about college life at UT and HT?
- Talking about sexual health and dealing with our sexual decisions at the Ballage's?
- The ROPP Quiz Bowl?
- Watching The Pact?
- Planting seeds in the Blackshear Community Garden?
- Learning about dining and dating etiquette from Sis. Lindsey?
- Ridin' in the limo to Galaxy Cafe?
- Learning about basic car care from the ROPP men?
- The interior design workshop from Ms. Cooks from San Antonio?
- Memorizing your Black History Speech? Reciting your Black History speech?
- Hanging out with your mentor(s)?
- Completing your ROPP Challenges?

Well, all this and more was part of a great first year for ROPP! You have set the bar high for what an organization of young men and women can do when they work together and show true dedication. I am so very proud of you! Let's see if ROPP II can hang.. =D

As we prepare for graduation, let us continue with the same spirit of excellence!
Prepare your reflection boards for display on Graduation Sunday. However you want your board to reflect your ROPP experience is fine. Bold colors are suggested. Your name should stand out boldly.
Ms. Yolanda has most of the photographs on this blog printed. Just get with her if there are some you'd like to use!

Graduation Weekend:

5/19- ROPP Graduation Saturday, 8-3
5/20- ROPP Graduation Sunday, 10AM Worship- Wear your ROPP shirt, khaki bottoms, black shoes

Invite your family and friends to join us for cake and punch after church!

February Core Focus: Black History

The ROPP Core Focus for February is Black History.
On Core Focus Day, ROPP Candidates got an exclusive peek at the history of several of Metropolitan's long-standing families. Candidates held one-on-one conversations with senior Metropolitan members, and discussed significant events in their lives and that of the church.
Judge Richard Scott shared what it was like to campaign, be elected and serve as the first Black judge in Travis County. Sis. Ada Harden shared many of the photos and memorabilia she's collected throughout her artistic and civic endeavors. Bro. Gerald Rowland and Bro. Olden Jordan shared stories about their military service and spiritual growth. Sis. Carrie Henderson and Sis. Janie Henderson created an impressive exhibit that featured several elaborate quilts, family photographs and teaching tools from many decades ago. The ROPP candidates eagerly soaked up their rich history and were proud to be affiliated with such distinguished people!

After the Black History exhibit, the ROPP family was joined by Sr. Pastor Mkwanazi for a soul food lunch in the fellowship hall: Fried chicken, sweet potatoes, green peas, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and sweet tea!


This Sunday, ROPP candidates will share the words of prolific African Americans during morning worship. Come listen, be inspired and support this awesome group of young ladies and gentlemen!

JANUARY Core Focus: Car Care and Interior Design

January's Core Focus Day was a bit complicated, for a few reasons!
First of all, the day was split between two core focus areas, rather than the usual one.
Secondly, our schedule was altered to accommodate the homegoing celebration of one of Metropolitan's long- time members.

The day began with an interior design presentation by Ms. Angela Cooks of San Antonio. She spoke to the candidates about basic design concepts, such as balance, color/ mood, budgeting and materials.
Candidates were given color wheels to see how colors complement each other and they each selected color swatches that appealed to them.
After the interior design workshop, the candidates were led in a basic car care workshop by the male mentors, Bro. Ken, Bro. Olden and Bro. Anthony. They got a chance to compare the engine design of various types of vehicles. Several demonstrations were given, including how to change a flat tire, how to measure tire pressure and even the effects of Coca-Cola on battery acid build up!

CORE FOCUS CHALLENGE
A. Interior Design
- Choose an area of your home that you would like to modify.
  Identify at least two of the following design elements you will address:  

• Unity/ Harmony- considering how one space blends with adjoining spaces
• Balance- use of symmetry, asymmetry; distribution of visual weight
• Focal Point- properly attracting attention in a space
• Color Schemes- the psychological value of color; creating mood with color

Using a video recording device, create a 3-5 minute video that includes the "before" design of the area/room, you in the process of making the change, any materials you use, and the "after" design.
Be sure your parents/ guardians are aware of the changes you are making and approve BEFORE you begin.

Note: The change does not have to be drastic nor one that costs any money (paint, decorations, etc)! That is optional. The point is simply to demonstrate that you understand how each of these elements impacts the design of a space.

B. Car Maintenance

- Record the tire pressure for all four tires on a vehicle and indicate if they are properly inflated (Yes/ No)

- Research how to identify the oil dipstick on your family vehicle.
  Shortly after the motor has run for at least 5 minutes, have someone videotape you removing the
  dipstick and observing the condition of the oil. Speaking to the camera, answer the following questions:
        1) Does the oil look clean or dirty?
        2) Is the oil level full or low?
        3) What type of oil does this vehicle use? (if the information is available)

Submit your video to youtube.com and email the link before midnight, 1/31/12.
If you don't know how, ask one of the other candidates for assistance.

Good luck and have fun!

     

December Core Focus Challenge- 2011

December's Core Focus is dating/ dining etiquette. The core focus challenge has two parts:

1) Write a brief, accurate definition of each word below. If the word has multiple meanings, use the one that best relates to this month's core focus. Use each word in a sentence that demonstrates you understand how it should be used as related to this month's core focus.
Note: Some online dictionaries also have a feature that allow you to hear how a word is pronounced! =)

1. a la carte

2. al dente

3. baste

4. bon appetite

5. chivalry

6. condiment

7. courteous

8. cuisine

9. entrée’

10. epicure

11. etiquette

12. filet

13. fillet

14. garnish

15. gentleman

16. gourmet

17. gratuity

18. hors d’oeuvres

19. lady

20. maître d’

21. palate

22. prix fixe

23. refined

24. RSVP

25. uncouth

2) Invite an escort to join you for ROPP Nite Out. The escort should be a young lady/ gentleman that is considered to carry themselves in a respectable manner. During the evening you will be observed for how well you demonstrate the fine dining skills you were taught. Areas that will be evaluated:

- Dress code adherence (sent in an email)
- Demeanor (no horseplay or excessive silliness)
- Conversation (appropriate subjects, volume)

- Table Etiquette (use of utensils, napkins, chewing, etc)
- Manners (chivalry, "Please", "Thank you", etc)

- Balance (have fun too!)

ROPP Night Out is co-sponsored by The Galaxy Cafe. They have agreed to create a fine dining atmosphere just for us! Please visit them when you can and pass on appreciation for supporting our organization!

The Pact Impact

                                   CLICK ON EACH IMAGE TO ENLARGE IF NECESSARY.

 

 

November Core Focus

The Core Focus for November was about setting goals and helping each other reach them.

ROPP Candidates watched The Pact, a documentary about 3 young men from Newark, NJ. Sampson, Rameck and George, despite coming from very challenging backgrounds, made a decision to work together to make it through medical school. They did it. Two are physicians and one is a dentist. ROPP candidates discussed how their story impacted their personal commitments to their goals.

 Candidate Imani, who plans to become a pediatrician, was inspired by their focus against the odds (only 6% of new medical students are black males!)
Candidate Jabari said while watching the film,  he was thinking about how important your choice of friends is to reaching your goals and staying positive.
Candidate Quincy said watching the three doctors motivates him to fight harder against the distractions he knows he will face.
Sis. Yolanda pointed out to the boys how attractive men in suits look and how favorably the world responds to you when you are well-dressed. She point out that sharp clothing can convey power and a sense of importance that can make a difference.
Sis. Deborah reminded the candidates of Malique, the young narrator in the film, whose father left after his younger sister was born with a severe disability. She encouraged the candidates to think about how God provides alternate resources in our lives when there is a void. However, she pointed out, we have to recognize the resources and take advantage of them, as Malique did with his relationship with the three doctors.
Sis. LeBerta talked about her career in the medical field and how few black people are in any medical capacity outside of nursing. She encouraged the candidates to explore the wide range of occupations related to saving lives.
The candidates took a pop quiz over the documentary, and Candidate DY won $5 for being the only one to get ALL the answers correct. Congratulations, DY! Everyone came close, though!

Candidates received their November Core Focus project for the month, which was a set of 5 short essay questions related to The Pact. Assignment: Answer each question, using at least 100 words.


1. Who were the people that made a positive difference in the lives of the three doctors? What did they do that helped? Who can you identify in your life that is a positive influence? How can you connect to their help to be successful?

2. How did peer pressure impact George , Sampson and Rameck? How did they keep the pact alive despite peer pressure? How does peer pressure affect you?


3. Rameck's grandmother made him give back money once when she found out his mother used it to pay the utility bill rather than for the portfolio pictures for which it was intended. "You can't help nobody til you help yourself," she said. Do you agree with her philosophy in this case? Why or why not?


4. In the book The Pact, Sampson said that a lot of teachers "...just didn't know how to reach us and didn't seem to care. They expected and accepted mediocrity and, unfortunately, we usually gave them no more." Who is to blame for this situation and why?


5. How do you feel overall about the story of the three doctors? If anything, what will you do differently as a result of seeing it?


DUE DATE: November 30th. 11:59 PM.

At the last group visit to the Blackshear community garden, Candidate Diante suggested making a scarecrow for the garden. So, in addition to watching the documentary on Saturday, ROPP candidates made a scarecrow that will be taken to the garden.

Candidates also created garden plot markers to identify who owns each section of the garden and hopefully discourage people from taking produce that doesn't belong to them. The markers were delivered after church the next day, and Caitlin, the garden manager, said they were awesome!
Candidates also signed "thank you" cards for all the donations that were received at the 2011 ROPP Quiz Bowl...and ate nachos...lots of nachos.

It was a busy, yet fun-filled day! Which is how we ROPP and Roll...