President George W. Bush will meet Tenisha Stevens upon arrival in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Thursday, January 15, 2004. Stevens has been an active volunteer with Union Bethel AME Church for the past 14 years.

Later this month, the USA Freedom Corps – President Bush’s initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation – will celebrate its second anniversary. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country, like Stevens, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Since 1990, Stevens has volunteered with Union Bethel AME Church, where she tutors at-risk first through sixth grade students at William J. Guste Elementary School as part of an after school Youth Enhancement Program. Stevens also visits with these students each Saturday through Union Bethel AME Church’s youth ministry program, serving as a mentor and talking to them about conflict resolution, alternatives to violence and social enhancement. Stevens also volunteers with the church’s Homeless Prevention Program and serves hot meals each Saturday to those in need. Since 2002, Stevens has volunteered with Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., a national non-profit educational and humanitarian organization for women who are interested in the well-being of individuals and the preservation of values. As a volunteer, Stevens works with 13 to 18 year-old girls several times each month through the organization’s Top Teens of America Program, helping them to enhance their writing skills and engage in volunteer service activities. Each week, Tenisha also speaks to sixth to ninth grade students about self-pride and self-respect as part of Project Success, a program through the New Orleans District Attorney’s office that teaches youth about character building and conflict and violence prevention.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to volunteer service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world. Interested volunteers can find opportunities in their own neighborhoods through the USA Freedom Corps web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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