By Chelsea Clinton
Rock Center special correspondent
As I started to think about my first ‘Making a Difference’ segment, I knew I wanted to focus on an organization that was scalable – either in the sense that it could be serving more people if it were to have more resources, or it could be a potential model for other communities. I certainly found it in the incredible work of the non-profit Targeting Our People's Priorities With Service (TOPPS), in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and its founder Miss Annette Dove. TOPPS meets every need of her kids all under one roof. The program provides them with a safe place to do their homework and socialize after school; tutoring help; mentoring programs; the opportunity to visit colleges and the world beyond Pine Bluff; and healthy meals and snacks. Miss Dove also helps teach kids how to cook and make nutritious meals out of what their families receive from the food bank or the Salvation Army. On an average day, TOPPS feeds 280 kids, a number that rises to 440 in the summer. Often, TOPPS feeds kids’ parents too – there are some days when TOPPS feeds 500 people, and even more in the summer.
Dozens of kids participate in the daily tutoring programs and close to 100 make the commitment to participate in the mentoring programs that target young girls, older girls and high school-age boys. The waiting list to get into the programs is far greater than the number of kids currently enrolled. Miss Dove is incredibly – and justifiably – proud that the students in the tutoring programs, and particularly those in the mentoring program, stay out of trouble and see their grades improve. Five students from the older boy’s mentoring program, led by Miss Dove’s son Michael, went to college last year – five boys who may not have graduated high school without Miss Dove and Michael’s leadership and support. Many students told us that without Miss Dove in their lives, they would be failing school, have dropped out, be locked away in juvenile detention or jail, or possibly even be dead.
Amy Reinhold
As Miss Dove told us, she fills the gaps she sees in her kids’ lives and in her community. She started TOPPS with the community reading program RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) in 2002 serving a handful of kids. In the decade since she founded TOPPS, Miss Dove and her team, including all four of her grown children, have affected thousands of kids’ lives. Beyond the direct services TOPPS provides, Miss Dove goes with kids to their juvenile hearings, their teacher conferences, sometimes even to talk to parents with substance abuse problems about getting sober and back on track.
In Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a community with one of the highest per capita crime rates in the country and where more than 75% of kids are on reduced or free lunch plans, Miss Dove helps kids be kids – and gives them the support, nourishment and love to give them a chance to grow up into responsible adults. Mayor Carl Redus said he couldn’t imagine Pine Bluff without Miss Dove and TOPPS. Lieutenant Shirley Warrior from the Pine Bluff Police Department told us that she, the Police Department broadly and the juvenile justice system all refer kids to Miss Dove. Miss Dove’s impact extends far beyond the thousands of kids she’s helped and the hundreds she serves daily – she’s affected the city of Pine Bluff and how it sees its future. Her city, her family, her staff and, most importantly, her kids at TOPPS all say Miss Dove is, indeed, making a difference.
Editor's note: To learn more about Miss Dove and TOPPS: http://rockcenter.co/w2rnF5
Leave a Comment:
An outstanding and inspiring story, but I would think the import would be more motivating for people to get involved if the meaning of TOPPS was explained within the article. For a first attempt at reporting...a job very will done.
Did you not read the first paragraph? Or were you so ready to be patronizing that you forgot to read the article?
Whoa! I thought it was Hillary, for sec... or less. Keep up the good work, Chelsea!
Ole newty would have these kids sweeping floors, and cleaning toilets...
Even Arkansas has moved beyond the throwback mentality of a leading teapublican..
My Mom had to raise 5 of us by herself after my Dad died early in life. We all worked at a very young age and we all have payed the price health wise. Childhood is not made for hard work of the heavy manual type. We did not have an Annette Dove early in our lives but the three youngest of us did have dear Mrs. Hartman as our first grade teacher. She began the idea of hope for something better for us and later a fine young Salvation Army officer in Yakima Washington finished the job. I shall be eternally grateful to these two fine people who went far more than the extra mile to help our family on it's way. So I truly recognize Annette Dove and congratulate her on her wonderful service in the lives of these young people. I know they do now, and will forever express their gratitude for the change she brought to their lives. And thanks Chelsea for this wonderful, heart warming story. I know your parents are very proud of you!
It's worth considering, though, that taxpayers and consumers are going to be paying for programs like this either way when the people making the effort go bankrupt and need assistance themselves. So why not maintain enough funding contingent on a system of efficiency auditing? Maybe because our congre$$ is more interested in corporate welfare than the welfare of this nation's young citizens?
Don't let the Republicans know about this good news, they'll put a stop to it immediately. Especially if it takes even a penny away from the wealthy.
Well I am a proud Republican and give money every month for backpack weekend lunches, buys Christmas presents. I am so sick of hearing how the liberals are the only ones who care. They only care for themselves and the power they yield.There are alot of good people who do a lot for the poor and do it without being asked. They would rather, do it to help others than have the government decide who gets what. I also think that having the children do chores after the meals because that would make them appreciate what was done for them instead of a case of entitlement. I am proud of all the candidates in the Republican party!
Thanks Chelsea, its about time! Great news here! We need to read more positive stories that show ways of taking real social responsibility in our communities!
This sets a fine example and a sequel would be appreciated. I agree with Arni. I would like to hear more about TOPPS in the future and see this approach being implemented in other cities across the country. Too many are falling through the cracks these days and this must be turned around by The People, for The People.
Miss Dove and her family are an inspiration of hope and it is nice to see a place where the rewards that come with a job well done are bringing good results for the betterment of the quality of life of American citizens.
Looking forward to the broadcast of this story. I hope to hear what TOPPS is an acronym for. Nice job, Chelsea, I will be watching on Monday.
I find it a bit unusual that one of the first articles from this reporter is about the reporter. The lead from this reporter is about the reporter and the lead "top of the fold" photograph is also about the reporter. Is this story about TOPPS and/or Miss Annette Dove? Or is this story the first effort to push the "what a reporter!" story line the Clintons wish to promote?
You really have to be a disgusting party ideologue to make that statement. I think that she is indeed an integral part of the story so fine by this Republican for her to have her name at the introduction. However, that only has anything to do with the publisher and not Chelsea. Can you not even imagine what it meant to those kids to have the daughter of the former President of the United States to do this story about them. Sounds like sour grapes out of someone in my own party. Me, I am giggling away after reading your comment.
TOPPS: The Official Power Populus Syndrome
I'm not sure if you were being funny.
Copied from the 1st paragraph of the article: Targeting Our People's Priorities With Service (TOPPS)
I believe you meant 'populist'.
Typical bagger.
vomiting...she's a non-achiever, but you 99%'ers just Luuuuuuuuuuuuv the Clintons.
Non-achiever, aye? Care to (honestly) post your curriculum vitae alongside her's?
I am thankful that they are actually showing good things in the news for once. There are so many good things that people are trying to do to help others that are not seen or heard of. If America and the rest of the world could see the good things more often, perhaps we would have less hate, crime, and hurting people. Those trying to do good may have others that offer to help them in their endeavors and some may choose to start doing some thing similar in their community. This is not about politics or education, it is about doing what is right. Love to all and Merry Christmas <3
I wonder if shell sleep with her sectry
@ArniV: Thanks for the suggestion. Updated to include the full name of the organization, Targeting Our People's Priorities With Service.
That should be TOPPWS. With is also a word. It shouldn't have been left out of the acranim.
Wow!...thats Billybob wearing a wig!...right?!...right?!...:p
Nice story as reported by Chelsea Mezvinsky. In the future it would be helpful if Chelsea would honor her husband and use her married name.
I was counting down to the hate. As usual, you didn't disappoint.
Why should she use her husband's name? I kept my maiden name, as my husband said, "I didn't adopt her, I married her."
Where does it say a woman has to honor her husband?? Try getting out of the dark ages.
Dear Jane,
I was simply making a point. The story is well written and Mrs. Mezvinsky pointed out the benefits derived from the actions taken by Miss Dove. I am a very traditional man who believes that a wife should honor her husband by invoking her married name. If you see hate in my commentary, I'm sorry. Please redirect your comments to someone who seeks to do harm or besmirch Chelsea.
Dear Laurie,
If you took traditional marriage vows, and nowadays many people do not, it says for the woman to "love, HONOR and obey" her husband. As far as I'm concerned, I stand on sound theologic ground. I'm sorry if you take offense at my statement, but I cannot in good conscience offer you an apology.
Sure, this is great story about a great organization that truly serves those in need, and Ms. Dove and everyone in HER organization deserve ALL the credit.
The fact is this is the kind of story that WILL get "sidetracked" simply because of "whose name is on it".
Since the name of a "recently married woman whose "maiden name is Clinton" is on it, it is certainly VERY FAIR to INQUIRE about what her NAME is Legally? Why NOT?
Not sure about what her "married LEGAL name is or is not" but if her own mother took the name of her father, Clinton, it certainly seems reasonable and fair to inquire if Chelsea is "Chelsea Mezvinsky" or possibly "Chelsea Clinton-Mezvinsky".
Of course, if either NBC or Chelsea are "somehow EMBARRASSED" about even mentioning her "husband's MEZVINSKY family name", then the fair question becomes, "Why?"
An actor named "Nicolas Coppola" did not want to gain notoriety based on his family name, but wanted to gain notoriety based on his "skills as an actor" and he became known as "Nicolas Cage".
Similarly, another actress, a first cousin of Nicolas, named "Talia Coppola" also did not want to be known for her "name", so she has been known as Talia Shire aka "Connie from the Godfather films and "Yo Adriane" from the Rocky movies.
Another "very famous Journalist, Reporter and News anchor was born with the name of Maria Kennedy Shriver, and could have EASILY used "just PART of her name" and been know as "Maria Kennedy"? In addition, that lady was always considered quite ATTRACTIVE by the majority of viewers... but NO, she NEVER "took advantage of the Kennedy name to gain ANY recognition or notoriety".
"Other, weaker people, "apparently NEED to use their "father's" name , instead of "even attempting to gain respect based on their own merits?
In the case of Chelsea?
Try to think of "another TV anchorette" that LOOKS like Chelsea?
Let's be fair... she is atrociously U.G.L.Y...., I mean we are talking, "SCARY to look at!" Seriously, even her mom looks good next to her.
Keep in mind, Chelsea looks like that AFTER ALL of Hollywood's BEST, most expensive, super, high-profile Image Specialists did EVERYTHING they POSSIBLY could do.
Unfortunately... THAT really is the "absolute best" they could do! No kidding!
It was SO GUTSY of NBC to actually "post her picture!"
It's a very safe guess we won't be seeing her picture on a regular basis.
God Bless her... it isn't her fault.
She had a total slut for a father and a miserable bitch for a mom.
And as if that wasn't bad enough... she's really, really ugly too.
That's just sad.
actually you are the one who is really sad.
"Shriver" WAS her maiden name. She apparently WAS reminding us of her Kennedy connection by using her mother's maiden name in the middle. She was married to Arnie, remember??? Slow down and get your facts straight, Mr. "Speedy".
Chuck, I am not asking for your apology, but instead that you try to understand that people don't have to take other people's name for honor. You weren't at their wedding and you didn't hear their vows so don't put your beliefs on their marriage. That is between them and not anyone else. The article was not on her marriage it is about something else.
Speedy, try checking your facts and your post is just a rant, and who are you to judge Ms. Clinton's looks, are you a model or work in the beauty industry that gives you the right to criticize someone's looks. It appears from your post you are the sad one.
Re: the mean male chauvinistic comments above. Yes, it was just a matter of time to see the sick and ugly stuff come bubbling up out of the deep dark pit, much like a jealous evil black robed Maleficent arriving uninvited to the sweet christening of little baby Aurora in the Disney movie, The Sleeping Beauty.
To honor, love and....obey???? What, some uneducated concepts need some consciousness raising here. They got rid of "obey" a long time ago because of its obvious allusions to the woman being chattel to the man owner which is not only sexist but religiously bigoted, not always true as nowadays the woman usually has more money, and such wrong-headedness is a one sided limited insult to the Mary's and God/dess down through all of human history.
There are personal choices for women here in the USA for over a hundred years for last name when it comes to ownership of land or inheritance, especially since the time of the suffragettes and the women's vote. It was accepted and became more popular with the women's liberation movement and for career women, and in the sixties many women started to use the maiden name with a hyphen to the married name freely. Many war widows have returned to their maiden names or upon a second marriage, a double barrelled maiden married name makes it easier for old friends to find one. From that point, if the name needs to be used in a short space or abbreviated, it is common to see just the first name appear which is usually the maiden name simply because it comes first.
After being abandoned by three husbands, a friend of mine has kept one name through it all, her maiden name... and now this is the only one she will ever want to have or be known by because she is already who she is and has been known by her maiden name all of her life and she is already good enough for who SHE is. For both men and women, one thing is usually constant throughout their lives...they are always known by who the mother is within a natural family system.
Just consider this from the above statements...the Man wants to possess this poor woman so much that HE wants to take even her own identity as anything she ever was or is aside from HIM away from HER. Then HE thinks HE is free to be the big MAN and go do what ever HE jolly well pleases when out of HER sight. HE may not find it masculine to change diapers, clean up messes, or stay at home and miss the nightclubs and hang with his buddy's leaving HER with the work at home. It smells a bit like old stinky double standard here as if the writer with blinder self centered vision, never did stop to consider that the old "obey" also applies to the promises kept by the men to the women? Or does her daddy have to come over to remind you not to be so insulting to his family? Most likely, because some guys have such little respect for the woman that it takes another MAN to correct the bad attitude or false consciousness embedded so stubbornly in the mind of a sexist man. Back on track, Speedy has broken the code of honor by attacking real people and not sharing opinion or attacking the opinions or ideas but attacking people and their supposed characteristics which is a completely subjective POV on the part of Speedy only and not true in reality. Cheap shots are what they are, like the saying goes that we all learned in kindergarten, "everybody is a star, what you say is what YOU are"; these words are very ugly and mean. They are the very thing that shadows the good that people try to do by being positive in this world.
"R E S P E C T, don't know what it means to me"...obviously someone forgot that song out in the mid-sixties by a great woman who made more and gave more by far than many men or women ever will, Aretha Franklin.
"Beauty of voice and soul, warmth and kindness, doth make a true lady." "Such words were ne'er so well spoken." Shakespeare and Alexander Pope...It makes one wonder how many literary greats are needed time and again to remind us of our social and historical amnesia and hammer this ugly oozing sleaze-verbage back down into its own miserable identity?
~ Ms. Chelsea is beautiful and smart. She has just pulled back the curtain with her smile and story about Ms. Dove and let some sunlight into a dark, sad, cold, merciless room. I am so tired of the shadows, let there be some light. ~
It likely wasn't Chelsae's decision to put her and Ms. Dove's pic at the top of the story. Chelsea wrote the story you nimrods, she didn't design the layout of the webpage.
Anyway, I always liked Chelsea, I watched her grow up as most of America did, with that fat ass Rush Limbaugh downgrading the young girl at every opportunity and I am glad to see her become by all appearences, a truly decent person.
What is it with you aceholes that cannot let go of the Clinton era? You might want to look at that. It's not as if any one of us has a choice what family we are born into anyway; good, bad or indifferent.
Also, I think the story is well written and as Chelsea continues to generate more work, the better her product will be.
To the people who are complaining about Chelsea not using her husbands name, for starters, Clinton is easier to spell than MEZVINSKY and second of all, she is more known for being a Clinton. Maria Shriver never changed her name.
Thanks for the Targeting Our People's Priorities With Service (TOPPS). Thanks for Ms. C. Clinton's heart for the needies. Thanks.
Great story. I look forward to tunning in! I had never heard of rock center until a few weeks ago, but I look foward to it now.
Who in the hell are you people that are concerning yourself with her looks? Do you want to post a picture of yourself to see if we can rip you apart because I am sure you probably ugly yourself. The article was a great one and it shows that the daughter gives a damn. To the person who said that the dad was a total slut and the mother a bitch, well you should do as well as them. They are not perfect, but then again you are not either, and I am sure that you are just jealous yourself. That sentence just goes to show that you really care about them.. Thank God for that, and I am sure that they appreciate that you really care ... And for all of you that are worried about her taking her last name, did you talk to her husband about it? It was probably one of the things that they did have a conversation about. And if he does not care, why are you sticking your traditional backwards ideas into the picture? Hopefully your wife, if you have one yet, find your views quaint and livable. Thank god that the rules of being married have changed over the years otherwise alot of us would be barefoot and pregnant all the time. Get with the times or stop imposing your 1960s views on the rest of the world... The article was great and some of you icky readers are trashing someone who is just trying to help get the word out about a great program.. What are you doing to make the world a better place? Put up or shut up.
One of the reasons I like the NYT so much is that they moderate reader comments and keep them on topic, whether positive or negative. It keeps out such absurd and off topic responses, such as some in this thread. It's amazing how ignorant and hateful some people are. Forums such as this expose it, and make me worry about the general populace. Chelsea Clinton is an amazing, briliant, accomplished young woman, who hopefully will follow her parents' footsteps into public service, because we desperately need such people. But it seems to be a thankless path, and her current foray into reporting may be safer. As a founder of a nonprofit agency myself, I would like to know the source of funding that allows this agency to thrive and stay alive. Although we perform valuable services as well, it is a fight to stay alive, so information of this type is helpful. Our focus as readers should be to applaud such noble efforts to help children, and to export it to other areas in need as well.
rayenna, a good post, but it begs the question why does this Blog allow such
hateful comments. This is not Faux News that likes these kind of comments. I
don't get it! Phyllis Kunz
My grandmother and others of her time helped everyone without question. Chelsea did a great report an many can remember that patterned worked. Many today don't give a second thought to others suffering but it's nice to see the foundation of our country is sound. As a child I lived in the 50's when change took place and education/respect/manners where taught. Bill and Hillary have shown they taught their daughter those values and Mrs. Dove is teaching a generation. Chelsea went home the place she knows best and has her roots. Some look at the number of kids Mrs. Dove helps but we saw thousands of kids in Florida as just one of the States suffering during this Recession. Many spill the Religious values and even us God's name but never seem to do the work He asked. People that truly believe in God just do the work without a headline but the rewards come from God not from man.
Chelsea Clinton has a multi million dollar lavish wedding and then lectures me about being poor or helping poor kids I am throwing up now.
Wonderful, heartwarming story. I teach remedial reading to disadvantaged high school students. Ms. Dove's story exemplifies why we do what we do. Thanks for sharing.
Good job by Chelsea, and she is a lovely young woman.
WTF were did Chelsea get that adams apple ?????????????????