Recreation Chronicle Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2017

Essence Carson gets her day in Paterson

Nicholas Katzban

PATERSON — In some ways, the WNBA's Essence Carson has never truly left her hometown. Although the small forward from Paterson recently won a championship at the end of her first season with the Los Angeles Sparks, which she joined after eight seasons with the New York Liberty, she has always returned to help lead youth basketball clinics, lend her name to programs and raise funds for LGBT and

drug-prevention organizations.

"No matter where I go, New York or Los Angeles," Carson told a crowd in Paterson Eastside High School's gymnasium Tuesday night, "I'm always proud to say I'm from Paterson." Carson was there to accept the key to the city, among other gifts and proclamations, to official declare Nov. 15 being named Essence Carson Day in the city of Paterson. Carson got her start playing at Eastside where she graduated a star athlete and with academic honors.

"This was not just about basketball," said her former coach, Ed Black, "it was about developing a human being."

www.patersonnj.gov

Jose “Joey” Torres, Mayor

After high school, Carson was accepted to Rutgers where she graduated 17th on the university's all-time scoring chart. In her first year with the Liberty, Carson scored 15 points in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Connecticut Sun. Three years later, she was selected to play in the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game. At the end of the 2015 season, she left the Liberty for the Los Angeles Sparks, with whom she became the first resident of Paterson to win an athletic championship in professional basketball. Delivering a mostly off-the-cuff speech, Carson said, "Paterson is a place filled with people who just need opportunities," and that she comes back "to show everyone that given the opportunity, you can do anything." Members of the Essence Carson Elite basketball program approached the lectern in the Eastside gym to present Carson with a plaque, two young girls, read the bottom of the engraving in their ingénue stammer, pronouncing, "above all, you are our she-ro."

CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR PATERSON

Paterson Recreation UniSamba F.C., Boys - U-10, U-11 & U-15

During the holiday UniSamba F.C. had the privilege of playing in the 36th Annual West Deptford Thanksgiving Tournament. The event took place November 25th through November 27th. The team played three games and qualified for the Championship. The U-10 and U- 11 boys had the honors of taking home the 1st Place trophy and the U-15 came in 2nd place. The players, coaches and parents enjoyed themselves. This was a wonderful experience for the returning and new players. They truly represented the City of Paterson in displaying outstanding sportsmanship.

My Vitiligo Story

My name is Crainysha Rutherford, and my daughter Khori

Symone Muckle has Vitiligo. Vitiligo is a skin disorder in

which various white patches appear on different parts of

the body. This occurs because the cells that make

pigment (color) in the skin are destroyed. These cells are

called melanocytes. It started when Khori was 3 years old

with a spot on both of her eyes. I didn’t pay it too much

attention, I figured it would go away. It begin to spread

over her eyes & different spots throughout her body. As it

continue to spread I decided to go to Dermatologist here

in NJ. I went to over 10 doctors they all said the same,

“there is NOTHING we can do, and it’s Vitiligo this is a

disease that may spread throughout her body. There was

one doctor who wanted to put her through laser

treatments but as a mom I felt she was too young for

that. As a mother, knowing that my child will be looked at

differently because of her outside appearance, I me not

having the power to change it was very hard for me. I

broke down after every doctor visit, watching the spots

show up one after another on her elbows, and knee etc. I

was full of rage when people would stare and ask questions. I was full of emotions mad, confused, and hurt. I prayed

at night. I ask God why, why didn’t he give it to me, I have tough skin. Khori has always been the type of child who has

a bubbly personality. Nothing ever seems to bother her. She is always talking, singing, and expressing herself. The

Vitiligo never seem to bother her. When I would cry at night or in public, I always tried to hide it from her but some

way she would catch me and say “mommy it’s ok people don’t have respect, and they don’t know.” Hearing that come

from a child leaves me with hope knowing that no matter what my baby is going to be ok. God gave her tough skin and

Vitiligo doesn’t take that away from her.

It took me over a year to accept it. I always knew I had to do something to help her deal with looking different. My

vision is one day she can model or become a spokesperson for Vitiligo, showing the World how beautiful people with

Vitiligo are. Showing them that it’s not contagious and no matter what your circumstance is you have to love yourself.

God has truly blessed me with a daughter that is outspoken, and not ashamed of her beautiful spots. I pray so hard

that she can always have this tough skin and continue to encourage me to reach out to the Vitiligo Community and

encourage them that they are BEAUTIFUL people.

In 2014 I decided I had to do something. I wanted to bring people together, support my daughter and the Vitiligo family. I decided to give a Vitiligo Awareness walk in support of Khori-Symone. I began to post flyers on Facebook and Instagram for support. I never thought I would get so much feedback and support from people with Vitiligo and those that don’t have it but wants to know about it. I decided to give the walk in June because June 25th is “Worlds Vitiligo day”. So not only will we have a day to Celebrate but also have a walk to look forward to. I was able to get people to

speak at the walk and tell their stories about how they live with Vitiligo. I don’t believe it was a dry eye in the park. The turnout was great, I had over 200 people attend my 1st Annual Vitiligo Walk! After the walk I begin posting pictures and the feedback I received from so many people was amazing. Recently I successfully completed my 3rd Walk on June 19, 2016. The Passaic County Sheriff dept., Assembly Office, and Paterson Recreation helped sponsor the walk. Every year it gets bigger and better! The Vitiligo community and their families looks forward to the walk every year. Year after year everyone is always overwhelmed with joy. Khori has been blessed to attend the Capital in D.C to speak about Awareness on June 25, 2019. To listen to a 7

year old tell you “You have to be brave, & love yourself” you have no other choice but to love yourself & be brave.

There were over 200 people who attended, I must say I am so very proud to be Khori’s mom.

God has truly showed me that I have to do this not only for my daughter but for myself as well as people that have

Vitiligo. I can now speak about it and tell my story without crying but speak about it in confidence. I know no matter

what my daughter is going to be okay.

She has accomplished so much in the last two years. Khori is now the face of Zanderm cosmetics they specialized in

Vitiligo. She was in Macy’s fashion show in 2015, and currently have photo shoots schedule throughout 2016. She is

very athletic, she does gymnastics, swim, dance, cheerleading, and she plays basketball. She has the bubbliest

personality and she cares & loves everyone! My purpose of telling my story and how I deal with my daughter having

Vitiligo is to help others, helping them love them for who they are and not what they are seen as. I know there are so

many people in this World that are mean and will pick on people that don’t look like them. I’m here to help ANYONE

deal with Vitiligo. You are BEAUTIFUL, love your spots… Embrace your beauty and keep praying to God to help you

get through it. I take one day at a time with EVERYTHING I do in life, but that one thing I make sure I do is “Put my

kids first”. Whatever I had to do to make Khori feel special because she looks different, is a priority in my life. My vision

is for one day Khori can host these walks and be a voice for someone or help someone create a voice for themselves.

I know God makes no mistakes and I know he blessed me with Khori and her Vitiligo to HELP OTHERS!!!

I hope Khori story can be a blessing to people! Our goal is to reach people Worldwide….

Contact info for Team Khori Foundation is teamkhori_vitiligobeauty@yahoo.com, IG: princess_khori, FB: Vitilogo Princess

Khori

Benjie E. Wimberly, Recreation Coordinator - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Paterson Recreation is conveniently located in two locations: 133 Ellison Street directly behind City Hall and the Whitehouse in Eastside Park.

For immediate service you can reach us at (973) 321-1313.