Anne Melcombe, AFABC’s WWK worker is looking for that perfect fit for Keesia

By Ryan Mitchell The Afro News Vancouver

Keesia is a preteen like most; loves to sing and dance, is athletic and recently represented her school in a high jump competition. The biggest difference between Keesia and other preteens is that Keesia is waiting for a family to call her own.

“I really would like to be adopted and know that I am part of a real family that will be there for me through the thick and thin.’ says Kesha, a twelve year old Caucasian/West African girl.

Keesia is part of the Adoptive Families Association of BC’s (AFABC) Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, sponsored by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Rachel Timmins, AFABC Communication Coordinator, talks about AFABC and the importance of families for all children, from babies to teens.

“AFABC Started back in 1977 around a kitchen table. Parents in the community felt a need to gather and support each other. It grew from there to this organisation that you see now with over 20 staff members. We have been around for more than thirty years. We serve all of BC, providing support and information to parents who are thinking about adopting, who have adopted, in the process of adopting or even adoptees themselves. One of our new initiatives is our teen project which focuses on teen adoption.”

Anne Melcombe, AFABC’s WWK worker is looking for that perfect fit for Keesia “She wants to be a singer or even a model . Keesia is athletic and musical; she has a good sense of humour and can be quite charming. ” Melcombe states. “Her enthusiasm and cheerfulness help her cope with the many transitions in her life.”

Melcombe states the reason for her urgency in finding a family for Keesia. “Keesia has had too many changes in her life, including many moves in foster care. She is a great kid who has not found a family yet.”

Melcombe emphasizes the importance of Keesia staying connected to her cultural roots, “Although Keesia has had some exposure to African culture, she would really benefit from knowing more about her cultural roots.”

Anne Melcombe mentions the importance of children’s cultural identity.

“The core of their identity is both their cultural background and their family background. For children who are visible minorities in our community, it is really important for them to understand where they come from, how they fit in the community, what to expect from the community, and connect with people who can help them figure out how deal with racism and be proud of who they are to help them feel good about themselves.”

“We would love to find Kesha a family in the African-Canadian community or a family with previous experience parenting adopted children of African descent.” Just before the interview, a family was interested in adopting Kesha but unfortunately they lived in New Mexico. “We really need B.C residents due to adoption laws in the province.”

“Five years ago the long term plan for Keesia would have been to put her in independent living once she reached 17 or 18.” Melcombe says.

Timmins reiterates that teenage adoption is still a new and growing initiative, “Only recently there has been a push for adoption plans to be made for teens.”

The founder of Wendy’s, Dave Thomas founded a charity called Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. As an adopted child himself, Thomas wanted the many children who are in foster care to be placed in permanent homes. Anne describes the new program under AFABC.

Melcombe talks about how she decided to be involved in recruiting children for adoption, “I now have more than 20 years experience as a foster parent, and when I wanted to a family I choose adoption.” She adopted two African American children. “It wasn’t a decision I went into lightly. I really thought about it hard and felt that I could serve their needs. One is 14 and the other is 17, and I feel that they are fairly connected into the black community. I also adopted one of my foster children, who was 15 when she was placed with me. She is now 29 and has three children of her own.” Anne felt a need to be even more involved in the adoption processes. “At some point when I was a foster parent, I made a decision to go back to school because I wanted to do adoption work. After I finished school a position opened for a child specific recruiter and it seemed like the right fit for me.”

Melcombe and Timmins look ahead to the future of adoption, and are quite optimistic about the increase of adoption of older children like Keesia. They hope the change in government policy and the popularity of adoption within American pop culture will create more awareness of the children and teens who are waiting for families.

www.bcadopt.com,

BC’s Waiting Child Info Line: 1-800-ADOPT-07

anyone interested in finding out more about Keesia can contact Anne Melcombe at 604-320-7330 ext. 117

Cornelius Stewart Forward Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs.Toronto FC Photo Preston Yip

BURNABY, BC – In their second match of the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship on Wednesday evening, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (0W-0L-2D) had to settle for a disappointing goalless draw with Major League Soccer (MLS) club Toronto FC (2W-0L-1D) at Swangard Stadium.

Seeking their first win in this year’s competition, Teitur Thordarson’s side worked hard to try and find a way past the Voyageurs Cup holders. Yet, as it has been in the past two home matches, the Blue and White were unable to find the decisive breakthrough, despite creating several decent goalscoring opportunities. It is the first time in the 36 years of the Whitecaps that the club have registered three consecutive 0-0 draws. Wednesday’s result also extends Vancouver’s unbeaten home record versus TFC to three matches (1W-0L-2D).

The result keeps Vancouver’s hopes of winning the Canadian Championship alive, though the ‘Caps must now claim victories in their final two tournament matches away to Montreal Impact on May 26, and Toronto FC on June 2. The winner of the 2010 Canadian Championship will move on to face Club Deportivo Motagua of Honduras in the Preliminary Round of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League.

While the Whitecaps were unchanged from the starting XI that faced the Impact in USSF D-2 Pro League action on Saturday, TFC made a notable switch in their line-up, as former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway replaced Stefan Frei in the visitors goal. There was also a first appearance at Swangard for former Whitecaps defender Adrian Cann, as he partnered Nana Attakora at centre back.

Though wind warnings and a heavy late afternoon rain shower may have dampened things in Burnaby, BC, a Swangard crowd of 4,928 saw a solid first-half display from the ‘Caps, who showed more urgency to try and break the deadlock.

Vancouver’s intent to show they were far from out of this competition came as early as the seventh minute. However, stand-in captain Nelson Akwari was unable to properly connect with Ricardo Sanchez’s inswinging corner at the far post. On 14 minutes, Marcus Haber neatly slipped a forward ball to central midfielder Luca Bellisomo, who then drilled a low shot just wide of goal. Then on 19 minutes, the hard-working Sanchez caused panic in the TFC box with a dangerous free kick from the left that was eventually cleared.

In a position to win the tournament with a victory in Vancouver, TFC struggled to penetrate through the Whitecaps backline, with midfielder Nick LaBrocca and captain Dwayne De Rosario striking half chances wide of Jay Nolly’s goal.

Fittingly, the last chance of an intriguing opening half fell to the ‘Caps on 42 minutes. The industrious Cornelius Stewart did well on the left flank before driving a cross that eluded the head of strike partner Haber at the far post.

It meant that both clubs went to the halftime break tied at 0-0.

With the Whitecaps attacking their favoured south goal in the second half, Thordarson’s side picked up where they left off at the break, as they showed a continued desire to find the back of the net. In contrast, TFC seemed content with the goalless scoreline after the restart, despite playing the dangerous duo of De Rosario and second-half substitute Chad Barrett in attack.

On 51 minutes, TFC goalkeeper Conway had to collect Haber’s dangerous byline cross from the streaking Justin Moose, as the winger just missed making a connection with his head. Moments later, Sanchez drilled a left-footed shot just wide of Toronto’s goal. Then on 58 minutes, former Puerto Rico Islanders midfielder Dan Gargan did well to clear Sanchez’s well-struck free kick for a corner, as Bellisomo looked set to redirect the ball on target in the TFC box.

Looking to turn the tide of the contest their way, Thordarson used his three substitutions, with Takashi Hirano, Martin Nash, and Randy Edwini-Bonsu all entering the action. Though all three subs brought fresh impetus to the Whitecaps attacking play, the decisive goal remained as elusive as ever. On 67 minutes, Haber chipped a shot right across the face of the TFC goal before Stewart made an incisive run that resulted in a shot that also failed to test Conway moments later.

As the match entered the final stages, TFC then gave the home fans a scare. On 79 minutes, Gambian midfielder Amadou Sanyang powered a half-volleyed strike just over the Whitecaps crossbar, while three minutes later, De Rosario had a point-blank effort blocked away by the assured hands of Nolly.

Yet, most of the action in those dying stages took place at the other end, but as the ‘Caps kept knocking on the door of the TFC goal, Vancouver were still unable to walk their way through that door and register a priceless goal. Substitute Hirano had the best of those late opportunities, but the Japanese defender’s header from Stewart’s cross was well saved by Conway at the far post.

Even four minutes of time added on could not change the ultimate course of proceedings, as TFC looked more satisfied with the resulting stalemate at the final whistle. For Vancouver, only victories will do at this late stage of this year’s Canadian Championship.

90 FULL MINUTES

The Whitecaps will complete their five-match home stand on Saturday night when they host former head coach Bob Lilley and his Rochester Rhinos side at Swangard. Toronto FC, meanwhile, are back in MLS action on Saturday afternoon, as they host New England Revolution at their BMO Field home.

BY Nathan Vanstone

Someone really needs to write an “HST for Dummies” book for all the gullible people who’ve been conned into believing the HST is a new tax that will cost them more money than they’re paying right now. P.T. Barnum really knew what he was talking about when he said there’s a sucker born every minute, and BC seems to be full of them these days.

There are layers and layers of hidden provincial sales tax embedded in the things you buy right now. And it works out to far more than the 7% PST you currently see on your receipts. Do people in BC really want to go on blindly paying these hidden, very costly layers of PST? I don’t.

The PST is an antiquated, costly, uncompetitive tax. BC is one of the last places in the country to do away with it and replace it with a value added HST. People need to open their eyes and start doing the math instead of running after fools and charlatans like lemmings heading for the cliff. This is definitely a case where ignorance is not bliss.

Michael McBratney

Port Moody, B.C.

By Douglas Clement The Afro News

Akeem Haynes

Akeem Haynes of Calgary wins the 17 years and under section with his Canada Summer Games victory in the 100m with his 10.47 (1.3). This high school student at Crescent Heights is ranked 10th in the world in the Youth division. He has a pending Canadian Youth record of 21.48 in the 200m. This was his first year of full sprint training after playing football.

Katie Reid

Katie Reid of Surrey, BC won the gold at the Canadian Youth Championships in the 400m and has a pb of 54.90. This grade 10 student at Earl Marriot Secondary took the bronze at the Canada Summer Games. This 16 year old Ocean Athletics speed star was edged by another runner of the same age, Carly Paracholski of Manitoba in Charlottetown but defeated her in Sherbrooke

Julie Labonté

Julie Labonté of Ste-Justine, QC won the Canada summer Games with her16.23m. She had set the Canadian Junior record as she won the 2009 Canadian Junior Championships with 16.39m. She also took the silver Medal at the Pan American Junior Championships in Trinidad. Last fall she was the winner of Eric E. Coy Memorial Trophy – Outstanding Junior Athlete of the Year as she won the gold medal in shot put at the Commonwealth Youth Games by throwing 15.02m.