News Conference

Stone Soup Leadership Institute and Oakland Public Schools Announce Young Heroes in Oakland Contest for 9/11

Oakland, CA - The Stone Soup Leadership Institute and the Oakland Unified School District will hold a news conference on September 11, announcing the Young Heroes in Oakland Contest and the launch of the Oakland Celebration of Heroes Campaign.

The Celebration of Heroes Campaign is a national call-to-action to inspire people to be heroes by helping others. Oakland is the first city to be kicking off this campaign; and Oakland's youth, tired of violence and violent images of their city are leading the way.

Featured speakers and guests at the news conference include: Dennis K Chaconas, Superintendent of Schools; Enrique Padilla, Captain, Oakland Fire Department; Brian McKibben, Fremont High School Principal; Michael Jackson, teacher in the Fremont High Media Academy; Marianne Larned, author and Executive Director, Stone Soup Leadership Institute; and students in Oakland.

"We are honored that Oakland is the first city to kick off this Campaign ," said Supt. Dennis K. Chaconas. "This is an opportunity to recognize some of the numerous young heroes in Oakland; their example will inspire all of us to work even harder for a better future for our city and our country."

"We're looking for young people who are being heroes by helping others. The Campaign is designed to ignite the heroic spirit in everyone of us - and rekindle the spirit of giving by honoring everyday heroes, passing on their legacy and inspiring others to join, city by city and country by country," said Marianne Larned, author of Stone Soup for the World: Life-Changing Stories of Everyday Heroes. (Random House 2002).

"Now more than ever, our young people need to believe that one person can make a difference," said Michael Jackson, teacher at Fremont High School Media Academy. "This project inspires my students and gives them hands-on experience - finding, showcasing, and becoming a hero in their own community. Together we will stop the violence and build a better world."

Winners of the Young Heroes in Oakland Contest will be presented the Stone Soup Community Hero Awards by Oakland Fire Captain, Ray Gatchalian at the Celebration of Heroes event Nov. 1 at Fremont High School.

Background Information

Oakland Fire Captain Ray Gatchalian
Captain Gatchalian has dedicated his life to helping young people be the best they can be. He has worked with Oakland leaders, Mayor Jerry Brown, Alameda County Schools and Juvenile Hall programs, California Association of Peer Programs and California Wellness Foundation's Violence Prevention Initiative. A Stone Soup Leadership Institute faculty member, Mr. Gatchalian's story from Stone Soup for the World is featured on www.soup4world.com.

"The Stone Soup Leadership Institute brings out the hero in everyone of us. I've been involved with the Institute from the beginning in 1999. As a faculty member, I've experienced the power of bringing different parts of the community together. The synergy that takes place is incredible - especially when everyone experiences they have a similar vision and begin to collaborate in new ways to make it happen.

It gives me great hope that we can create the same synergy in Oakland. There are so many wonderful people doing good work here. Unfortunately, the headlines are full of the bad news. I'm excited and honored to be working with my friend, Marianne Larned, the Stone Soup Leadership Institute and people in the Oakland community to bring forth the good news. I hope you will join me, so that together we can reignite our spirits and work towards the building of a better future, especially for our children.

The Stone Soup Leadership Institute is a 501 c3 educational organization, that develops educational tools, programs and events that honor everyday heroes and train future and emerging leaders to work together to build a better world. Founded in 1997, the Institute moved to the Bay Area in 2001. The first Celebration of Heroes with Walter Cronkite was held in Oak Bluffs, MA in July, 2000. An "Academy Awards of Service," this televised event featured celebrities, musical performers and honored local heroes for doing good deeds. In 1998, response to the first black-on-black related murder in Oak Bluffs, the Institute honored the 35th anniversary of Dr. King's " I Have a Dream" speech, attended by President Clinton and Congressman John Lewis, Captain Gatchalian and other Stone Soup for the World heroes. The Institute's Celebration of Heroes Campaign is the first step in a multi-year youth-community leadership initiative. For more information on the Institute, visit our website and watch our video with Walter Cronkite: www.soup4world.com/video/videohome.html.

Contact:
OUSD - Ken A. Epstein
(510) 879-8582
Stone Soup Leadership Institute: Marianne Larned
(415) 646-0416