Christin Gates Calloway, Kosciusko native and a former participant in the programs of the Oprah Winfrey Boys and Girls Club, was guest speaker for the club’s annual C.A.R.E (Children Are the Reason for Excellence) banquet held Oct. 18.
Following the theme “Great Futures Start Here,” the Kosciusko High School graduate remembered her experiences at the club. During high school she was a member of the band, involved in student government and in Christian Liberty M.B. Church.
She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in Psychology, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and was named to the Ole Miss Hall of Fame. She earned her Master of Education in Education Policy and Management from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. She is currently working on her doctorate in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
She currently works as a policy associate with Kids Forward funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. She and her husband, Kamai Calloway, reside in Verona, Wisconsin.
But she remembers her roots in Kosciusko as being critical to her success.
“In Kosciusko, we truly are a family, community and village, and we do all that we can with the resources we have to take care of each other,” she said. “I am because you are.”
Calloway encouraged each person attending to give of themselve to the club and the community in the best manner they can. For some, she said, that might be through financial donation, while for others, it might be volunteering time.
“Whatever your time, talent and treasure may be, our children need you to be roots for them,” she said.
Entertainment was provided by the Dynamic Voices of The Oprah Winfrey Boys and Girls Club.
Cameron Skinner was recognized as runner-up for the OWBGC Club award.
Maudie Benton recognized three donors who have supported the club throughout the year. They were the Kosciusko School District with Sheila McNeal, school board member, accepting; Ivey Mechanical, Curtis Turnbo, accepting; God’s Corner Gardener, also accepted by Turnbo.
