Community Outreach Ministry Recognized For Mentoring Services

WILDOMAR, CA — Founders of Community Outreach Ministry, a Wildomar-based, nonprofit organization, along with its advocates, were honored this month for the agency's mentoring services provided to at-risk youth, including those enduring poverty, violence and parental incarceration.

The office of Riverside County's Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington recently presented a certificate of recognition to Mona and Bob Davies, the husband-and-wife team behind Community Outreach Ministry, a nonprofit that has helped thousands of at-risk children since 2000 with social, safety, educational and vocational opportunities.

The Davies, authors of Children’s Liberation from Incarceration Breaking Cycles New Beginnings, were heralded at the recent “'Gearing Up For STEM' Mentor Protégé Workshop."

An honoree, Laverne Williams-Schoonover, a guidance counselor at Aspire Community Day School in Hemet, received a Certificate of Recognition from Washington, presented by legislative assistant Opal Hellweg, along with the student body.

Attending the Dec. 12 event were Aspire Principal Andrew Silva, staff and middle- and high school students, more than 20 of whom participated in the STEM workshop and presented their assembled Green Science robot kits with their mentors and peers.

"Students who finished their robots first were promoted to junior mentors," organizers said. "Students collaborated with their peers and protégés to fully assemble each robot. The workshops serve to develop valuable, hands-on STEM skills, teamwork and good sportsmanship."

The Community Outreach Ministry mentoring team included group founder Bob Davies, a retired
aerospace engineer, Marc Ang, founder and president of Asian Industry B2B Orange County, and
Marilyn Brown and her grandson Jacori Neal, a student at Temescal Canyon High School in Lake
Elsinore.

Neal, self-taught in robotics and engineering, and a singer and musician, spoke about his progression from robot-kit assembly to his newest venture: programming robots to talk, sing, walk and dance. He now volunteers at many of the programs and events held by Community Outreach.

The recent STEM workshops, administered by Community Outreach, are “quick, impactful and transformational," mentor and engineer Ang said, adding that he has “watched at-risk students derive confidence, tangible and practical skills and a collaboration mindset from this powerful activity and service."

Anyone wishing to learn more about Community Outreach Ministry, provide donations or get involved in the organization can follow this link or call 951-698-7650.

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