Character Reference for Mama Mary Sunbeam

To Whom It May Concern:

I have known Mary Arpante (hereafter “Mama Mary”) for the past ten years and have collaborated with her extensively during nine programs at South Lakes High School and South Lakes Transitional High School in Reston, Virginia.  I can attest to Mama Mary’s outstanding character, unwavering honesty, strong sense of personal and community responsibility, and concern for social justice.  Without dignifying any of the absurd accusations lodged by the management of Rite Aid against her, which Mama Mary tearfully shared with me during a recent retreat in Broadway, Virginia, I can state unequivocally that Mama Mary’s morality and work ethic cannot be challenged.  If Mama Mary is being penalized for standing up on behalf of a fellow employee, this injustice must be remedied.

Mama Mary has presented Cherokee cultural programs at my school and in other locations for healing lodges (retreats) for at-risk students, faculty, and friends.  Our efforts have been supported by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Met-Life Corporation, the Horace Mann Company, and discretionary funds from the Fairfax County Public Schools.  In all instances, Mama Mary has followed the financial terms of the grants explicitly and documented expenses with detailed invoices which are transparent and clear.  She has always promoted the interests of my students above all.

Our first association with Mary Sunbeam began during a healing ceremony or sweat lodge retreat for nine at-risk young men from South Lakes High School in December 1999.  The goal was to intervene in a special way, and to offer some perspective in the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the lives of each participant, many of whom shared Mary’s indigenous background.  All the participants reported a life-changing experience as a result of their time spent with Mary Sunbeam at the Oasis Lodge in Great Falls, Virginia.  In 2000, Mary Sunbeam took part in the first annual Reston Multicultural Festival.  Many students from South Lakes also participated as either performers or volunteers, and were able to appreciate firsthand Mary’s special gift for dancing and storytelling.  This led inevitably to plans for a program tailored specifically to the needs of language-minority and ESOL children and adults at our school.  We have been very fortunate to host Mama Mary at our school, and have offered similar programs virtually every year since these auspicious early beginnings.

 

Mary Sunbeam's work has been acknowledged by the American Association of Community Colleges with an NVCC Model Program Award. She has also received awards from Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. school systems, and cultural communities.  Positive Education, Inc. and Mary Sunbeam are active in promoting the value of cultures and mutual respect through classroom education, mentoring, and presentations. The motto of Positive Education, Inc. is:  ©YOU ARE IMPORTANT!  That is precisely the message we have conveyed at South Lakes High School and in Reston.  Attached are comments and testimonials I have collected over the years which attest to Mama Mary’s positive contribution to my school and community.  I think student comments speak more eloquently to the positive impact Mama Mary has than I can express.  I have highlighted comments which are particularly relevant to Mama Mary’s employment dispute.  Furthermore, I attest to the authenticity of all of the attached comments, and again affirm that any challenges to Mama Mary’s work performance or financial dealings are unfounded.  I also offer to testify on Mama Mary’s behalf if called on to do so.

Sincerely,

Martin J. Van Opdorp