Archive for August, 2010

Over the past twenty five (25) years, the retired police officers at Street Smarts of Maryland have devoted their entire lives to protecting our communities.  During their law enforcement careers, these individuals have seen firsthand the devastation that can be created every time that someone makes a mistake when they are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.  These officers now want to focus on preventing such tragedies in the future.  That is why they’ve created their own Driving School entitled “Street Smarts of Maryland – A Professional Driving Academy.”

As an approved Driver Education Provider through the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, these officers now want to use their education and experience to make a difference for the newest drivers in their community.  And one of their goals is to combat the accident and fatality rate among new teen drivers.  “We lose too many kids to fatal accidents,” advised company Vice President John Parrott.

What really makes the difference between Street Smarts and other area driving schools is the level of training that each of their instructors has received in defensive driving tactics.  As retired police officers, each instructor has taken and successfully completed at least forty (40) hours of defensive driver training programs.  Some of the Street Smarts instructors have even spent years at their own departments specializing as defensive driving instructors.

State law currently requires that all driver education programs provide each student with thirty (30) hours of classroom instruction followed by six (6) hours of behind-the-wheel lessons with a certified instructor.   Parrott advised that Street Smart students receive not only the minimum six (6) hours of basic behind the wheel training, but two (2) additional hours of behind the wheel instruction as well.

Street Smarts also offers their students the opportunity to practice their driving skills on a closed course for free.  Once a quarter, Street Smarts instructors will set up a skills course at a local high school and offer their students a chance to take the course before they go to the MVA to take their license examination. “If the students can pass our skills test, then we feel very confident that they will do well at the MVA” stated Parrott.  Street Smart offers their programs at various high schools in the region all listed on their website  www.StreetSmartsMD.com “Our staff has over one hundred and fifty (150) combined years of law enforcement experience,’ advised Parrott.  Parrott is proud of the way that Street Smarts has modernized the state mandated curriculum that their instructors follow using laptop computers and LCD projectors, Power Point presentations keeping their students motivated throughout class. If we can keep a student’s attention longer, then they’re bound to retain more of the information that we are presenting to them.”

At the high schools where Street Smarts provides their driver education program, the company not only provides their students with their lifelong knowledge and training but they also provide the school PTA’s and Booster Programs with important financial support as well.  “We believe in giving back to the schools that support our program,” stated Parrott.  During the past twelve months, Street Smarts has donated over $ 15,000.00 back to the high school organizations that sponsor their driver education program.  “We understand the need to become an educational partner and to give back to the communities who want our program,” stated Parrott.

“We want every student to drive defensively and realize the importance of driving a car carefully in all situations.  If we can get our students to think about their safety and get them to their destination unharmed, then I feel that we have done our job well.”

For more information on Street Smarts of Maryland, please visit their website at www.StreetSmartsMD.com or call them at (443) 355-4238.

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Tammy Bowers is the Co-Owner of Rolling Ads of Maryland, a unique branding company offering a networking Concierge Service as well as an Outdoor Mobile Billboard Advertising Vehicle.  She is also a Charter Member with the Village Connector Online Community Newspaper. You can reach Tammy at 410-812-6024 or via email at Tammy@rollingadsmd.com.

The path from grief to giving is a narrow, winding and bumpy road that most people would avoid if given the option.  However, there is a woman in our community who navigates this road and who is attempting to widen, straighten and smooth the passageway for those who come after her.  For Portia A. Scott of Laurel, MD, life hasn’t been the same since the sudden and unexpected death of her only child on Father’s Day morning in 2007.  Nicole Lynette Scott Lee, a 35-year old wife, mother of two little girls (now aged 6 and 4), and a successful account executive with Black Enterprise Magazine at the time of her death, was Ms. Scott’s “greatest accomplishment.”  “Nicole was a beautiful daughter inside and out.  She epitomized all a mother could hope for in a daughter, and made a difference in the lives of everyone who came in contact with her,” Ms. Scott said.

However, God in His infinite and sovereign wisdom called Nicole back to His heavenly realm much too soon, leaving her mother and family mystified.  She was not ill and did not fall victim to accident or foul play.  She literally just went to sleep!  Many would say that is the ideal way to transition into eternity, and on some level they are right.  But at 35 with two baby girls depending on her for nurturing, it was a premature nightmare for her husband and her mother.

Nevertheless, Portia decided to turn her grief into positive action by doing something to memorialize her daughter, while simultaneously creating a legacy for her grandchildren.  The Scott Lee Foundation, Inc. (SLF) is the vehicle she chose. Ms. Scott created SLF as a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity with a five-point program.  Primarily SLF serves as an umbrella over the Nicole Lynette Scott Lee Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is designed to provide tuition assistance to under-served college students pursuing degrees and careers in the communications industry.  SLF has also taken up the challenge of assisting the unemployed, under-employed and those entering the workforce with job development training.  Their TRANSITIONS career development program has partnered with Howard Community College’s Continuing Education Department, Montgomery College/Takoma Park, and The University of Maryland’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion in presenting workshops to assist members of the community.  Collectively over 100 people have registered and participated in these training sessions that were facilitated by about 25 local industry leaders, business executives, and entrepreneurs.

SLF plans to launch its TmT, tutoring, mentoring and technology afterschool program, its New Beginnings support group for separated, divorced and widowed women, and its Families of Chosen Angels bereavement support group in the near future.

As is true with all non-profit organizations, financial support is needed to effectively move their program plans forward.  To that end, SLF is gearing up for an event to appeal to businesses and individuals for support.  Their First Annual Friendraising Gala: A Heart for Community Service will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at Martin’s West in Baltimore. So far SLF has attracted the following nationally acclaimed personalities: Edwin V. Avent, President/CEO/Publisher of Heart and Soul Magazine to serve as the event’s Honorary Chair, recording artists Michael and Regina Winans to be the Guest Hosts/Musical Performers, and Meshelle “The Indie Mom of Comedy,” as the featured entertainment for the evening. They have also picked up media sponsorship from WEAA 88.9FM, WKYS 93.9FM, and PRAISE 104.1FM radio stations.

You can help SLF cover the expenses of this undertaking and fund this year’s scholarship awards by making a donation to sponsor the event, purchase ad space in the souvenir journal, provide a silent auction item, or purchase tickets to the gala.  Donations can be made via the SLF website at www.thescottleefoundation.org. Please call 877-726-8533 or email Portia via president@thescottleefoundation.org for more information or if you have specific questions about the organization and its activities.

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Tammy Bowers is the Co-Owner of Rolling Ads of Maryland, a unique branding company offering a networking Concierge Service as well as an Outdoor Mobile Billboard Advertising Vehicle.  She is also a Charter Member with the Village Connector Online Community Newspaper. You can reach Tammy at 410-812-6024 or via email at Tammy@rollingadsmd.com