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Washington, D.C. Beat the Odds® Awards Luncheon 2008
May 19, 2008 - May 19, 2008CDF honored five Washington, D.C., area upcoming high school seniors who have overcome tremendous adversity to demonstrate academic excellence and give back to their communities during the 2008 Beat the Odds Awards Luncheon. Actress and comedienne Ali Wentworth and ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos hosted the event. More Information
Kristopher Stith
Kristopher believes that, although everyone faces challenges, the manner in which one faces those challenges is what makes him who he is. He lives by this mantra and has chosen to take on the negative realities of his community by becoming active and educating those around him. Instead of following the path of most of his peers into crime and delinquency, Kristopher prides himself on his education, his art, and his work as a staff member at a local youth leadership program. Kristopher and his twin brother played an integral role in the "Know Your Rights" campaign to educate youth and adults in his community about their rights as citizens. Kristopher developed a PSA for the campaign and was featured in the Washington Post.
Kristopher is also addressing the challenges his community faces. His low-income neighborhood will be turned into mixed-income housing, which will force Kristopher's family and many others to relocate. Instead of allowing the demolition of his neighborhood to defeat him, Kristopher has decided to face the challenge. He helped form a neighborhood coalition, organized trips to the city council, and held a youth retreat in order to educate those in his neighborhood about the redevelopment and the changes it will bring. Kristopher has learned that even if the odds are stacked against him, he can succeed through dedication and hard work. He hopes to pass this message on to others.
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