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A dream fulfilled.  This year, Dr. King's holiday falls one day before Senator Barack Obama becomes the nation's fourty-fourth, and first, African American president.  The dream of Dr. King's is being fulfilled by the his inauguration, and also by service organizations here in Toledo.  One in specific which has outlined it's mission: Saving Lives...Salvaging Dreams.  The motto belongs to the Student African American Brotherhood.   The service club is helping shape young lives in young men like J.P. King, a student at Bowsher High.  "Since Barack Obama won the presidency, it makes me think anything can happen.  Impossible is nothing.  If you have a dream there's nothing stopping you from going out and getting it."  His mother, Mona-Mae Mitchell says she cannot believe the change that has taken place since she was his age.  "We have seen the dream and we have entered that stage where we can imagine anything is possible." 

Founder and Executive Director of SAAB, Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe Sr. is basking in the glory of President-elect Obama, but says there is still work to be done.  "I'm challenging people to take it as a social repsonsibility to reach out and help those who have fallen by the wayside."  By participating in service learning, SAAB's term for community service, and then we all get something back suggests Dr. Bledsoe.  A thought process resonating with J.P.  "You can't just sit around and think everything is going to happen.  You have to get out ther and do work, you have to help with your community if you want to make it a better place."  There are no more excuses says Dr. Bledsoe, "I never thought there were excuses in the first place, but now I always say to my students, now you definitely don't have an excuse." 

The young King, J.P., is confident from this day forward, there is a new frontier willing to accept his leadership and his participation.  "Service is a whole lot.  It's probably the most important thing making your community better."  Mrs. Mitchell noting the dramatic impact of SAAB, "I think it creates for him this atmosphere that he can be whatever he wants to be."  Which, right now, is a cardiovascular surgeon.  His skin color is no longer a barrier.  "Somebody is not looking at themself saying, 'I'm better than them. I'm so much better than them because he's this color and I'm that color.'  For his generation coming up, it looks like that statement is vanishing." 

Realizing another dream of Dr. King, Dr. Bledsoe, feels President-elect Obama wasn't chosen by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.  "He has this mystical ability to celebrate, inspire, and motivate all over the world.  Not just in the United States.  That's what's so incredible."

Motivating young men like J.P. King.