At the end of our dinner date with Duke freshmen Malika Atmakuri and Kelly Schiabor, my husband and I declared it a smashing success. The young women were pleasant, talkative, and interesting. Malika, whose family is from southern India, grew up in Manhattan, and Kelly is one of only a handful of Dukies hailing from New Mexico.

The fix-up started with an e-mail message from Josh Parker. He ran for a seat on the Durham County Board of Commissioners last year at the tender age of 21. He didn't get elected, but that hasn't stopped him from doing some good.

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