Miss-Delectable
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Ben's Bells : Community-oriented youth is 'positive force in this world' | www.azstarnet.com ®
The recipient of this week's Ben's Bell is Eric Epstein, a teen who strives to provide a sense of community among his neighbors.
Epstein was nominated by his neighbor, Catriona O'Curry, who said of the 14-year-old: "He is a ray of sunshine on a grim day."
Epstein and his family live in a co-housing community in midtown Tucson. Each family in the community owns its own home and has use of shared common facilities and activities that foster a sense of community that is sometimes lost in modern subdivisions.
In her nomination of Epstein, who is deaf, O'Curry wrote about the free American Sign Language classes he gives once a week to adults and children in their co-housing community; art projects he displays to brighten up the gardens and walkways; and the cookies and other baked goods he makes for neighbors.
O'Curry said Epstein sometimes encounters prejudice and ignorance, "yet for the most part remains unflappable. He is very astute and very honest with people and gives them constructive feedback, yet is incredibly compassionate even when people's stories might seem insignificant compared to his ordeals."
O'Curry was so impressed with Epstein's engaging personality that she invited him to speak to the cross-cultural psychology class she teaches at Pima Community College.
"My students loved him! He is a powerful, positive force in this world and deserves encouragement," she wrote. "He is always upbeat and thoughtful . . . is very entertaining and can tell stories with great drama and humor. His positive attitude is a powerful reminder to not let life's tough times get you down."
Epstein was belled at his neighbor's home this week by Ben's Bells founder Jeannette Maré-Packard, who made the presentation in sign language.
"He was very moved when Jeannette came and presented him with the bell," O'Curry said. "It was beautiful."
Epstein, who plans to be a novelist, enjoys cooking for his neighbors, and recently made doughnuts to share. The offerings are a way to socialize with his neighbors and get to know them better. Often that is the goal with the games he invents. Many involve asking questions of each other, and all strive to include neighbors of all ages and physical abilities.
"I make sure with the games there's teamwork, that we work together. It's not just win or lose games," Epstein said during a telephone interview.
Epstein communicated using a videophone, which allows the hearing-impaired to communicate with others using American Sign Language over a videophone connection and speak with hearing people through a video relay service.
Epstein said he enjoyed speaking with O'Curry's college students and educating them about deaf culture. His goal is increased communication.
"I try to encourage hearing people to communicate with deaf people," he said. "This year I started trying to sign to people who know a little bit of sign. That's why I try to set up a sign class here in the community and in school."
The recipient of this week's Ben's Bell is Eric Epstein, a teen who strives to provide a sense of community among his neighbors.
Epstein was nominated by his neighbor, Catriona O'Curry, who said of the 14-year-old: "He is a ray of sunshine on a grim day."
Epstein and his family live in a co-housing community in midtown Tucson. Each family in the community owns its own home and has use of shared common facilities and activities that foster a sense of community that is sometimes lost in modern subdivisions.
In her nomination of Epstein, who is deaf, O'Curry wrote about the free American Sign Language classes he gives once a week to adults and children in their co-housing community; art projects he displays to brighten up the gardens and walkways; and the cookies and other baked goods he makes for neighbors.
O'Curry said Epstein sometimes encounters prejudice and ignorance, "yet for the most part remains unflappable. He is very astute and very honest with people and gives them constructive feedback, yet is incredibly compassionate even when people's stories might seem insignificant compared to his ordeals."
O'Curry was so impressed with Epstein's engaging personality that she invited him to speak to the cross-cultural psychology class she teaches at Pima Community College.
"My students loved him! He is a powerful, positive force in this world and deserves encouragement," she wrote. "He is always upbeat and thoughtful . . . is very entertaining and can tell stories with great drama and humor. His positive attitude is a powerful reminder to not let life's tough times get you down."
Epstein was belled at his neighbor's home this week by Ben's Bells founder Jeannette Maré-Packard, who made the presentation in sign language.
"He was very moved when Jeannette came and presented him with the bell," O'Curry said. "It was beautiful."
Epstein, who plans to be a novelist, enjoys cooking for his neighbors, and recently made doughnuts to share. The offerings are a way to socialize with his neighbors and get to know them better. Often that is the goal with the games he invents. Many involve asking questions of each other, and all strive to include neighbors of all ages and physical abilities.
"I make sure with the games there's teamwork, that we work together. It's not just win or lose games," Epstein said during a telephone interview.
Epstein communicated using a videophone, which allows the hearing-impaired to communicate with others using American Sign Language over a videophone connection and speak with hearing people through a video relay service.
Epstein said he enjoyed speaking with O'Curry's college students and educating them about deaf culture. His goal is increased communication.
"I try to encourage hearing people to communicate with deaf people," he said. "This year I started trying to sign to people who know a little bit of sign. That's why I try to set up a sign class here in the community and in school."