When:             Thursday, February 22, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Where:            Oak Park Elementary School, 301 S. Garfield Street

Why:               Traverse City Area Public Schools warmly invites the community to meet and greet internationally acclaimed child rights activist Kimmie Weeks. The reception is being held to honor Kimmie, who was born in war-ravaged Liberia. At the age of 14, he began meeting with warring factions in his country to prevent the use of child soldiers. This initiative resulted in Kimmie escaping the warlords after they made attempts on his life and coming to the United States. In 2002, Kimmie Weeks established Youth Action International where strategic programs in micro-finance have been developed to break cycles of violence and poverty.

TCAPS’ youth will be studying micro-finance and it's success in third-world countries along with its possible implications here at home with regard to service learning. This opportunity is available to our Youth through a Learn and Serve Grant from the Michigan Civil Service Commission and TCAPS volunteer, Leslie Falconer. The Falconer Group and Financial Literacy for Youth (FLY) have provided the opportunity to meet Kimmie Weeks by bringing him to Traverse City.

Light refreshments will be served at the reception. The event is free of charge.

Contact Person:           Please contact TCAPS Learn and Serve Coordinator Trish Fiebing at 933-5654.