Larry and Judy Kendall of Wildwood have been selected by Gitana Productions to receive the 2008 “Deeds Beyond Race: Extraordinary/Ordinary Person of the Year” Award. The award focuses on ordinary citizens who have bridged the gap between local African refugees and immigrants and the broader St. Louis community.
Gitana chose to honor the Kendalls for their work with the African Refugee and Immigrant Services, which provides assistance to Africans in St. Louis. Both Kendalls are board members and Larry is secretary/treasurer.
The Kendalls are most closely involved with Somalia refugees in St. Louis. They make sure that home visits are made to nearly every new family, then procure furniture, household products and connections. Larry also developed and supports an after-school program for Somali teenagers in the St. Louis Public Schools.
“Larry and Judy have gone to great lengths to help Africans get settled in the St. Louis community,” said Cecilia Nadal, executive director of Gitana Productions.
The couple first became involved with Africans in 1995 through their association with the parents of Amy Biehl, who was slain in Africa. Inspired by the Biehls’ reconciliation efforts in Cape Town, South Africa, the Kendalls have hosted Amy Biehl’s mother Linda Biehl at numerous speaking engagements in St. Louis.
They will be honored during the opening night performance of Complacency of Silence: Darfur, an original play by St. Louis playwright Lee Patton Chiles, on May 23, 8 p.m. at the Saint Louis University Theatre. Performances run through June 8. For tickets, call Metrotix at (314) 534-1111 or Gitana at (314) 721-6556 or visit www.gitana-inc.org.
Free activities for kids
The Ferguson-Florissant School District’s Parents as Teachers program is offering free activities for young children, birth to kindergarten entry.
Vehicle Fair. Tuesday, May 6, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Administration Center parking lot, 1005 Waterford Drive, Florissant. Come explore! A great chance for young children to see many vehicles up close. Car seat safety checks will be available.
Dads Have Babies Too! Wednesday, May 7, 6:30-7:30 p.m. James J. Eagan Center, #1 James J. Eagan Drive, Florissant. Learn how to be an important part of your child’s life from pregnancy on.
Just Mom and Me. Saturday, May 10, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. James J. Eagan Center, #1 James J. Eagan Drive, Florissant. Moms, come and enjoy songs, crafts and books with your child.
Creation Stations. Saturday, June 7, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30. Jackson Park, 6231 Washington Ave., Berkeley. Lots of art stations for you and your child to make, do and have fun.
Teen Parent Summer Group Meetings. Friday, June 20 and Friday, July 18, 12:30-2:00 p.m., Ferguson Municipal Public Library, 35 N. Florissant Rd.
To register for group activities or to enroll in Parents as Teachers call 314-506-9073.
Free hearing screenings at SLU
As part of the nationwide observation of Better Hearing and Speech Month, the Saint Louis University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic will offer free hearing screenings from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the clinic located in McGannon Hall, 3750 Lindell Blvd.
Graduate clinicians will perform the screenings which determine if additional evaluation and testing is necessary. Audiologists and speech pathologists will be available in the department the day of the screenings.
Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, call the clinic from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, at (314) 977-3365.