'MAKING A DIFFERENCE' BRINGS SOPHOMORE $20,000

A Winston-Salem State student received national recognition and $20,000 for a community service effort that she began when she was 14 years old.
Olivia Stinson, a sophomore business administration major from Charlotte, has been committed to helping the children of incarcerated parents in the Charlotte area for the past five years.
She was one of 10 selected to be honored at the 2012 L'Oreal Paris International Women of Worth program for making a difference in their communities.
Stinson was also one of six women to be recognized by the Next MAKERS organization for leadership.
She is one of two African-American women to be honored in both organizations and the only teen recognized in the Next MAKERS.
Stinson's program, Peers Engaged and Networking, was launched in October 2007 for young people 12 to 19 years of age.
She created it to promote literacy among children whose parents are incarcerated. The program also aims to involve the children in many cultural and social activities.
They go out to eat, attend many sporting events, movies, plays and fairs. They also have several workshops with guest speakers, and these are all funded by the grants and donations.
Both Women of Worth and MAKERS have granted Stinson $10,000 each for her community project "PEN Pals Book Club."
Stinson said, "It's wonderful to be a part of all of this at such a young age."
She won the awards when she was 19.
She said it is "surreal" to be classified among MAKERS such as Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, Diahann Carroll and Katie Couric.
Stinson said the funds from the awards will be used to fund social outings, purchase books and to have refreshments at club meetings.
The money also will be used to continue helping club members and the 19 families adopted over last the five years.
The idea for the club stemmed from the annual Angel Tree program at her church during the Christmas season.
The program provides gifts and donations to children of incarcerated parents.
However, Stinson said she felt as though enough wasn't being done.
Stinson said she wanted unity between the groups so the children of incarcerated parents wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
"I wanted it to be a situation where someone walks in the room and wouldn't be able to say 'all of you have incarcerated parents.'"
Stinson chose a book club because she said reading was a big part of her life. Her family always pushed the importance of reading, and she felt the ability to read heavily impacted academics.
"Sometimes they [the children of incarcerated parents] have issues in behavior or staying stable in school, and I figured if they are at least reading, it could help steer their education in the right direction."
Stinson said she chose the ages 12 to 19 because she believes youth see and understand more of what is happening in that age group.
Although PEN targets children of incarcerated parents, the club also incorporates youth from her church and around the community in efforts to not isolate the target group. As the book club grew, it started to become more of a support group.
Jacqueline Stinson, Olivia's mom and WSSU alumni, said she realized her daughter was genuinely interested in the children when she kept asking about them.
Stinson said her mom is responsible for obtaining the first grant she received to start the club, entering her into Women of Worth and MAKERS and overseeing all the finances. Her mom also stays in touch with the families as well as maintains the club, while she is at school.
Stinson usually goes home every other weekend.
When she graduates, Stinson said she wants to set up a foundation for the children.