My Thanksgiving Weekend Part II

November 29th, 2009

I visited the Cobb and Douglas County Community Services Board at Austell, Georgia to assist the staff of the organization in sorting various canned and boxed goods so that they could be handed to the different individuals with developmental disorders and also those who suffer from substance abuse. The target groups were people in the First Step Program, Supported Employment, Outpatient, Residential, and the Developmental Disability Services of the organization. I had the opportunity to reconnect with Mary Robeck who is the Volunteer Coordinator at CSB. I was impressed with the turn out of the event.

The volunteers varied from middle, high school and college students to the boy and girl scouts. There were also few adults who are regular volunteers at CSB. They were very welcoming when I arrived at the center especially when they realized that I am the Miss Nigeria in America 2009. Mary Robeck introduced me to the staff members and the photography team. After a short session of taking pictures, we had a 15 minutes orientation where Ms. Robeck gave the volunteers a brief summary of the activities for the day. When we walked into the two rooms that contained the volunteer food items, they were filled with food. We had to sort the items based on the kinds of food and their dates. We also box them according to the groups that would receive them. For example, the cans and boxes were grouped according to fruits, vegetables, pasta, soups, desserts and miscellaneous items. After several hours of sorting and packaging food items, we finally completed our activities.

I decided to assist other volunteers in coloring drawings for the season so that they could be handed to the patients. The event was exciting because I know that I have impacted someone’s life with my kind gestures. To further expand the kindness this holiday, on November 28th 2009, I sorted donated winter cloths that were donated by various individuals to Africa America Crisis Assistance Network. My family also spent several hours with me trying to ensure that the work was done properly so that the clothes can be donated to the less fortunate individuals who will need them this holiday.

CLARET ONUKOGU (MISS NIGERIA IN AMERICA 2009)

Thanksgiving Volunteer Activity 2009

Since I was not able to travel to Los Angeles, California to assist the MNIA Team with the “PATH Feed the Homeless” event that was organized and implemented on November 28th, 2009, I volunteered for a similar event hosted by the Cobb and Douglas County Community Services Board (CSB) in Atlanta, Georgia. The organization provides developmental disability, substance abuse and mental health services to Cobb, Douglas and Cherokee county residents. Every year, The Community Services Board serves more than 14,000 residents in Georgia (www.cobbcsb.com, 2009). The Cobb and Douglas County Board of Directors oversee, govern, guides and plans the daily operations of the organization. The CBS programs are funded and supported by donations, self-pay collections, fundraising, Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance, grants and the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

The organization has an access center that operates 5 days a week and is readily accessible to the residents of Cobb and Douglas Counties who are in need of care in areas pertaining to behavioral health care services. The Cobb and Douglas County Community Services Board’s Philosophy of Care is “To maximize satisfaction and outcomes through respectful, evidence based interventions with responsible use of resources.” The core value of the organization is that “Its success will occur through constant mindfulness of its Philosophy of Care and values” which includes: Individual empowerments, customer driven care, passion for innovation and integrity and focus on community. (www.cobbcsb.com, 2009).

Website: www.cobbcsb.com
Contact: Executive Director- Tod Citron
(770) 422-0202/ (770) 429-5000
Volunteer Coordinator- Mary Robeck
(770) 819-9229
3830 South Cobb Drive, Suite 300
Smyrna, GA 30080

Mind Games Movie Premier

The “Mind Games” premiere that was held on October 30, 2009 at the Mechanic Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, was very intriguing and interesting. Although the event started at a later time, the attendants had fun. The venue was very classy and elegant. The red carpets and the Victorian time setting added beauty to the hall. There were lots of individuals from French speaking African countries, Haitians and Nigerians. The main actor and actress of the movies were Van Vicker and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. The supporting actor and actress were two very nice and pleasant individuals from Haiti named Reginald Lubin and Carlin Renold. The talented actors and actresses were very well received by the audience. I got the chance to meet Miss Guinea USA and Miss Ivory Coast USA. They were both beautiful and outgoing. The organizers of the event tried their best to make me comfortable and I really appreciated their efforts. They apologized for any discrepancies during the trip and I will like to work with them again. I met people from all works of life, especially those in the various African entertainment industries. There were several performers from French-speaking countries who showcased their talents and also sold their materials after the show. I look forward to attending another premier and meeting more talented individuals.

Why I love Nigeria - Tolu Noah ~ Miss Anambra 2009/Miss Photogenic 2009

"I come from a land where family and community matter more than the individual.

Where relatives go out of their way to be supportive and welcoming

And the village raises the child, rather than the child ravaging the village.

I come from a land with rich, diverse languages

Where the word “ewa” can mean "beautiful," "beans," or "come"

And a person’s name is not just a name- it carries meaning

I come from a land with the most ambitious and hardworking people on the planet

Where education is of utmost importance

And citizens become doctors, engineers, teachers, and scientists

I come from a land where I can buy anything I need while stuck in traffic:

Cookies

Watches

Drinks

Belts

Pure water

You name it, they’ve got it.

My country may not be perfect

But we are more than the negative headlines

Gracing the newspaper page

We are creative.

We are ambitious.

We are caring.

We are driven.

We are intelligent.

This is why I love Nigeria."

Tolu Noah
Miss Anambra 2009/Miss Photogenic 2009

Nigerian Independence Day

October 1, 2009 marked Nigeria's 49th Independence Day. Every nation has growing pains and we are looking at this generation and the next to try and effect change in our mode of thinking and in the way we view our great nation. For the month of October, MNIA, Inc. will dedicate this blog to the quotes from many great Nigerians. We have asked people to email us and tell us why they love Nigeria...

"I love Nigeria for its diversity, abundant mineral resources and the fierce patriotism of its people. -Claret Ijeoma Onukogu - Miss Nigeria in America 2009.

Spousal Verbal Abuse

Spousal abuse is a problem that is prevalent among women in third world countries including Nigeria. I personally believe that it is caused by lack of proper education. Women are expected to be overly submisive to their male counterparts in these countries. Women are not fully liberated and they have little or no voice in their societies. They are expected to be a shadow for their men and not really express themselves when and how they want to; in a social gathering, A woman cannot stand up and speak without approval from her husband or parents. Spousal abuse has become a norm in Nigeria and other third world countries. Some men tend to show off their strength by abusing their women physically and especially verbally.

The effects of spousal verbal abuse are depression, loneliness and low self-esteem.


Individuals that are facing spousal verbal abuse need to realize that they have self worth. They need to ask themselves questions such as:

Do I have co-dependency issues?
Do I deserve to be abused?
What am I getting out of my marriage or relationship?
What are the positive and negative aspects of my marriage or relationship?
How can I change things for the better?

Claret Onukogu
Miss Nigeria In America 2009

The Miss Nigeria in America 2009 Pageant

Wow! I can't believe it's almost here. Well Ladies and Gentlemen, we have started planning. We have 3 and 1/2 months to plan this great event. I am ChiChi Dike, for those of you who don't know me and I will be your guide as we plan this event that marks our 5th Year anniversary. We promise to bring you an event you don'twant to miss. Do you have any plans for Labor Day Weekend? I suggest that you make your plans to come to Los Angeles for the 5th edition of the Miss Nigeria in America Beauty Pageant...

We are taking applications for the contestants and you can apply by clicking on this http://www.missnigeriainamerica.org/v2/cont_winners_application.php If you have any questions concerning the application, please call 213.471.2667. The deadline to Apply is JULY 6, 2009

Check out our website at http://www.missnigeriainamerica.org/ and be sure to check this blog on our journey to planning the 5th Anniversary!

Shalom

ChiChi Dike

Executive Producer and Director

The 2009 Miss Nigeria in America Beauty Pageant