Dr. Vida Davoudi is a Political Science Professor at Lonestar College – Kingwood
Dr. Vida Davoudi has a story to tell. She served in the Iranian Parliament decades ago (1975-1979) and was the only female. And guess how she first visited the United States? Rotary sponsored trip! She has an appreciation and love for Rotary, and she has spoken to many Rotary clubs over the years.
Vida G. Davoudi was born in Tehran, Iran and first came to the U.S. as an American Field Service exchange student. Shereceived her B. A. in Public Administration from theUniversity of Beirut in Lebanon and then returned to the U.S. to further her education. After receiving her M.A. and Ph.D. in political science at the University of Southern Illinois University in 1974, Dr. Davoudi returned to Iran.Running a "very Americanized campaign," she was elected as the youngest member of the Iranian Parliament and subsequently elected as one of the 12-member leadership group in the parliament. During her three and one-half years as a legislator, she represented Iran in worldwide seminars pertaining to the role of women in political development, served as the advisor to the mayor of Tehran, and was the director of the national Iranian Radio and Television. The onset of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 led Dr. Davoudi to leave Iran for Houston and she is currently Professor of Political Science at Lone Star College in Kingwood. She is the recipient of the college's Teaching Excellence Award and the DAR'steaching award.
Davoudi is also the faculty sponsor for the college's Student Government Association. She fosters leadership development in her students by actively encouraging them every year to seek state-level positions in the organization. Through her diligent efforts and advice, one of her former students was even elected to the highest level of State leadership as president of the Texas Junior College Student Government Association. She teaches her students not to simply attend college but to become leaders.
In addition to pursuing state office positions within the organization, Davoudi has led the students of SGA at Kingwood College in multiple community service projects such as food, clothing and toy drives for non-profit organizations and local area shelters for abused women and children. In the words of one of her colleagues, Dr. Davoudi is ``changing the world one student at a time.''
The Rotary Rose Group, a Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Support Group, was gifted $4000 by Humble Rotary. The gift will be utilized to assist with the costs of providing service to existing participants and to ensure that every new local mother is aware that this valuable no-cost resources is available to them.
Humble Rotary Gifts $4000 to Rotary Rose Group
The Rotary Rose Group, a Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Support Group, was gifted $4000 by Humble Rotary. The gift will be utilized to assist with the costs of providing service to existing participants and to ensure that every new local mother is aware that this valuable no-cost resources is available to them.
The Rose Group was established in the spring of 2013 by the Smart Mommies Foundation in Kingwood to provide no-cost group counseling to local moms seeking help and support for Postpartum Depression Anxiety and Depression. The need was recognized because many of the middle-class residents are excluded from reasonably priced mental health care. The Director of the Smart Mommies Foundation was a Lactation Consultant who regularly encountered mothers with symptom of PPD-especially because breastfeeding issues are a trigger for depression and they were asking for help. The Foundation began funding 2 one hour group session per month hosted by a local Licensed Family Therapist in Atascocita. The Foundation funded $100 per session, for a total of $200 per month.
In November 2014, the Smart Mommies Foundation’s funding source, the Merry-Go-Round Children’s Resale Shop was forced to close and thus the funding for the Rose Group was discontinued. The last group session was held in December 2014.
In December 2014, The Rotary Club of Humble stepped forward to assist in sponsoring the Rose Group. As a result of this assistance their name was changed to The Rotary Rose Group. The attendance has almost doubled.
Rotary has six areas of focus, with Maternal and Child Health being one of them. This focus includes reducing the mortality rate for children under the age of five, reducing the maternal mortality rate, Improving access to essential medical services and trained health care providers for mothers and their children and supporting studies related to maternal and child health.
The Rotary Rose Group is free and local. You do not need a formal diagnosis to attend and your baby’s age does not matter. Small group meetings are held twice a month at Atascocita Counseling Associates office at 18700 West Lake Houston Pkwy, Ste 100. For more information contact Valerie Copley at 281-814-5803 or Colleen Bragg at 832-541-9169.
Cynthia Calvert and Guy Sconzo reached out to the community for funds to help with Project Graduation at Humble High School. The school will have a night of fun at a lock down in school facilities. It will be an atmosphere where the students can make graduation night a safe and wonderful experience without outside forces ruining the night.
Humble Rotary gifted $1500 to assist with this project. The community donated more than $20,000 to help.
Gloria attended a work session where students and volunteers helped with a fundraiser that is described below
Pictured with Gloria are:
Back Row: Erica Arrizola,Ryan Darby,Gloria Bain, Kathleen Bauer, Deseree Traver
Front Row: Berta Santos, Jennifer Norris, Olivia Conely, Tiana Carraway, Vanessa Sanchez, Veronica Sanchez, Vickie VanGordon
Project Graduation, Humble HS
Cynthia Calvert and Guy Sconzo reached out to the community for funds to help with Project Graduation at Humble High School. The school will have a night of fun at a lock down in school facilities. It will be an atmosphere where the students can make graduation night a safe and wonderful experience without outside forces ruining the night.
Humble Rotary gifted $1500 to assist with this project. The community donated more than $20,000 to help.
Gloria attended a work session where students and volunteers helped with a fundraiser that is described below.
PROJECT GRADUATION 2016 FUNDRAISER
On Saturday, Jan. 17, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., the public is invited to participate in a shoe collection drive to raise funds for Humble HS Project Graduation, held at Humble High School, 1700 Wilson Road. Donations of gently worn used and new shoes will be accepted. The amount of money raised is determined by the number of shoes collected. All donated shoes will be redistributed to microenterprise partners through Funds2Orgs, a for-profit social enterprise, and used in developing nations for impoverished people to start their own businesses. By donating your gently worn used and news shoes to the Humble HS Project Graduation, your shoes are given a second chance to make a difference. Contact either Kathleen Bauer, 832-450-6600 or email annflowers_69@yahoo.com; or Vickie Van Gordon,832-496-9876 or email v.vangordon@yahoo.com.
Rotary Global Scholar Olivia Hernandez from Rice University to University of Edinburgh sponsored by the Rotary Club of Humble with Rotary President K.R. Ravindran from Sri Lanka
By Marilyn Axler You’ve heard that Rotary is a global organization. You’ve probably even had a visiting Rotarian or spouse attend your club. Isn’t it exciting to know that we can share experiences and ideas with others outside our own … Continue reading →
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit www.humblerotary.com or www.Rotary.org or e-mail info@humblerotary.com. Like us at www.facebook.com/humblerotary
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