POWER PROMISE ORGANIZATION’S CHIQUITA COLLINS RECEIVES FLORIDA JUVENILE JUSTICE ASSOCIATION PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

--- Student standout survived foster homes to earn straight A’s at UCF, now devoted to mentoring teen girls SANFORD, Fla., -- Chiquita Collins, an outstanding student and Youth Mentor and Program Facilitator with the Power Promise Organization in Sanford, has earned the Florida Juvenile Justice Association’s 2013 Public Service Award. Ursula James, Vice President and Program Director of the Power Promise Organization, said Collins, a UCF student, was honored recently before 400 or more expected participants at the Florida Juvenile Justice Association’s 18th Annual Adolescent Conference at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center, located at 1500 Sand Lake Rd. in Orlando at the Florida Mall. “Chiquita Collins will be honored for participating in community initiatives that educate and foster understanding of issues that at-risk youth face each day,” James explained. Collins has survived a broken home and foster care facilities to turn her own personal tragedy into triumph. "It is our goal at the Power Promise organization to empower today's youth to know that they have the power to succeed regardless of their environment. Chiquita has not only helped us with this mission, she has embodied it! She grew up in foster homes, separated from siblings and statistically expected to fail, yet she had the power to triumph and the heart to teach others! We are blessed to have Chiquita on our team, she has selflessly lead our quest to empower our youth,” said Tekoa Pouerie, President of Power Promise. “Chiquita Collins has devoted her spare time to mentoring teen girls who live in at-risk environments, including some who can personally relate to her background in foster care,” James said. Collins currently mentors at-risk girls at four Orange County Public Schools. She has mentored more than 100 young girls aged 11-18 to help shape their behavior and attitudes to become powerful citizens of their community, James said. “Not only has Ms. Collins excelled within the Power Promise Organization, she is also a stellar student with a 4.0 GPA at the University of Central Florida, and she is the first person in her family to ever attend college,” James said. The Power Promise Organization was established in 2008 to serve schools, equip parents, impact students, and inspire women to help Central Florida communities achieve a brighter future. Power Promise is a member of the UCF Business Incubation Program in Sanford.