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 Clear Messages in a Cluttered World...
about | history | team | careers | contact | directions | news Life gave me a script; I rewrote it Outreach programs can help at-risk kids beat the odds By Devin Releford I was supposed to be an emotional "crack baby," a problem child, a troublemaker, a statistic. By some accounts, the 1980s was a decade of pop culture and good times. Across many communities, however, an epidemic of drug use was taking place. I was born in 1983, conceived by two parents who both used drugs at the time. When I was born in Atlanta's Grady Hospital, my mother was asked to participate in a scientific study that would monitor my cognitive reception, intelligence, personality, habits and overall attitude for the next 24 years. The study was designed to monitor the progression of those born under the predilection that at some point in their life, they would be strongly affected by drug use. Last summer, I participated in one of the final portions of the study. I impressed the testers in every test I took by my college degree, field of study and the fact that I have no kids out of wedlock. I was employed in a good internship in Midtown and I had no emotional disorders, no prior arrests and no drug dependence. I was raised in Atlanta's "underprivileged" communities. I grew up near what was formerly known as Stewart Avenue. In an effort to change the negative connotations that came with the title, it was renamed Metropolitan Parkway in 1997. I knew the communities of West End, Oakland City, Sylvan Hills, Lakewood and Pittsburg like the back of my hand. This is where I was raised and where I still go for hair appointments, carwashes, shopping and neighborly visits. Over time, many things have remained constant in that area. Despite the name change, Metropolitan Parkway is still known for prostitution, which is evident every time I take a ride down the street. It is littered with dilapidated homes, homeless nomads, and the occasional police raid, complete with SWAT team trucks and helicopters. There is still a huge population of children and teens growing up in the area due to the many schools, parks and low-cost housing. These children, like me and millions of others across the nation, are being exposed to mature situations and experiences at a very young age that rival those of most adults. They are witnessing increased rates of teen pregnancy, drug use and trafficking, and severe violence and crime among their own peers. Young women are idolizing the provocative mien of celebrities and the popular Bratz dolls and teenage boys who have barely reached puberty and who are vying to sell drugs. As a seventh-grader, I sat next to a 13-year-old girl who was pregnant and another student who had been held back in his grade at least twice and was known for using marijuana. All this in seventh grade. A new view of future Even as a middle school student I could clearly see that if I stayed in my current environment, I would not amount to much. I decided to apply to the Mays High School Math and Science Academy, outside my school zone and in a part of town known for its elite African-Americans. Traveling to Mays was not easy. Each morning, I would wait for a MARTA bus before dawn on Metropolitan Parkway, followed by two trains and another bus. I commuted in reverse in the afternoon. Mays was a great school. It was a leader in math and science, sports, JROTC and community involvement. However, even it was not exempt from lunchroom drug busts, teen pregnancy and rising dropout rates. Once I reached my preteen years, and my most environmentally challenged point in life, I began attending a program called PREP at Atlanta Metropolitan College. PREP was designed to offer middle school students enhanced college preparatory educational training while exposing them to character building, cultural expeditions and college tours. I attended PREP from 1997 to 2000, and I learned that dreams of one day being successful could become a reality. I learned that anything I wanted to achieve was more than just a possibility. I had to be patient, because it might be a deferred reality, but it would come with time. Unfortunately, funding ran out and PREP is no longer offered at Atlanta Metropolitan College. Nevertheless, there are many programs and former residents giving back to southwest Atlanta youth in efforts to show them that they can go beyond the environments they see every day. From my experiences growing up in one of Atlanta's most challenged communities, I believe young people need the dedicated role models and character-building programs that provide examples of what they can amount to if they push past the vices in life. After seeing my mother completely give in to drug abuse and dealing with the death of my father at the age of 13, I was ready for a change. Attending PREP on weekends was my escape and made a strong impact on how I viewed my future. Going to Mays served as another escape route. It pulled me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to define who and what I wanted to be before it was too late. I was saved right on time. Opportunity to mentor While attending college at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, I participated in several programs that allowed me to reach out to children in the community. Knoxville is a small city that has serious problems with poverty and low academic achievement. As a part of my scholarship program, I volunteered at local schools and youth centers by tutoring and I mentored a high school freshman with the local Big Brothers-Big Sisters chapter. I also worked on campus to recruit underprivileged minority high school juniors and seniors from across the state to UT. From these experiences, I witnessed firsthand how a small portion of my time and effort can go a very long way in helping others. As I progressed in Knoxville, I began to see more of the students I'd recruited following in my footsteps and paving the way for even more students. These recruitment efforts helped to increase UT's minority population and created a larger base to reach out to the community. Recently, I worked with the Kim King Foundation and First Tee of Atlanta as a part of my duties as an account coordinator at a public relations firm in Midtown. The Kim King Foundation, named for the Georgia Tech football star and former West End resident, donated $25,000 to First Tee of Atlanta, a program located in John A. White Park that teaches character building to underprivileged youth through the game of golf. Being at John A. White Park, just miles from my former high school, and among elementary school students that reminded me so much of myself was overwhelming. I was truly appreciative of the program and its efforts to help children. I could see that the children were pleasantly surprised by the oxymoron of golf in the West End. These children were leaving their comfort zones, building personality traits that would help them succeed, and enjoying the activity all at the same time. It is imperative that all Atlantans, including young adults like myself, step up and assume responsibility for the rescue of the next generation of our youth. We should support charitable organizations like the Kim King Foundation that help our young people thrive. And we must be present in community centers, outreach programs like First Tee of Atlanta and within our own neighborhoods to show youth that they can overcome adversity, because honestly, many of us already have. It is an arduous task, but one that reaps lasting rewards for those of us who take it on. About Schroder Public Relations
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