2006 Beat the Odds®™ Awards Gala
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Max M. Fisher Music Center
Dinner and Awards Ceremony 6:30 p.m
The Story Behind "Beat the Odds®™"
The Beat the Odds Program puts a human face on the obstacles many
children encounter while pursuing success in the classrroom, the community
and at home. When confronted with their stories, we are moved to act. For
many youth, a significant barrier to achieving goals is the lack of positive
role models and awareness that they are not alone in having to deal with
overwhelming odds. All of their stories serve as an inspiration for young
people, while also reminding us of what we lose when we do not invest in
programs and policies that empower communities and individuals to help
children overcome tremendous adversity.
NLSM’s Beat the Odds program celebrates the positive potential of young
people. The program developed by Children’s Defense Fund initiated in Detroit
by NLSM in 1997 and has honored over 70 young people who have achieved
academic success despite overwhelming obstacles. NLSM annually honors
students who have the strength and determination to “beat the odds”. Each
student is honored with a scholarship award in recognition of his
or her accomplishments.
Each awardee was faced with overcoming such obstacles as poverty,
violence, homelessness, substance abuse, physical challenges and other
problems. Now they are well on their way to a promising and successful
adult life. On a path of success and hope, Beat the Odds recipients provide
inspiration to young people who face similar odds.
Each individual story is different. What they have in common is something
went wrong in their young lives. Things that almost made them quit. But
they didn’t. They not only survived, they thrived. Their lives are lessons
in making it despite their obstacles.
Galakpai (Ga-la-pi) witnessed the murder of one of his brothers and lost a
sister in the civil war in his native Liberia in the early 1990’s Galakpai was
shot in the feet and legs himself. He spent several months in a refuge camp in
Cote d'Ivoire before coming to Detroit with his two older sisters and young
brother. His father and step-mother were already here. Five years later he
graduated with honors.
“No matter what I don’t let anything stop me from learning,” he says. "Not
the war over there, not drugs. I do not let anything get in my way." He is
currently studying mechanical engineering and eventually wants to return to
Liberia to help others. But he is not waiting to help. He is a volunteer with
community groups that gather food and clothing to send to Liberia.
Cenobia
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in
life as by the obstacles which he has overcome in trying to succeed”. The
