Jackson Free Press

This is a serious request. I'm writing to ask you to help the young people of Jackson in any way you can. We are in difficult times right now where high drop-out rates are feeding directly into crime in the city. Too many young people have no direction, and need guidance that perhaps their parents aren't giving them, for whatever reason. We can debate the causes all we want, and we should, but meantime let's see what we can do to help our little postage stamp and the children in it, thereby making our future safer for all of us.

I'd posit that if each of us, today, would decide to do one thing more than we're already doing to help the young people of the community, the outlook in Jackson would immediately become brighter. Call that naive optimism, but why not try just in case? So think, pick up the phone, donate some money, or just go ask a young person you don't know well to talk to you about something that's on their mind. Here's my idea ...

I have long believed in mentoring, and have seen it change people's lives, including my own (both by being mentored during a difficult child- (and teen-) hood and by mentoring others going through difficult child- (and adult-) hoods. I want to make mentoring as easy and accessible as possible for each of you by using the grass-roots power of the Internet. All I need from you is suggestions: Where can adults volunteer to mentor? (This can be established or not.) Do you know a young person who needs a mentor? A mentor with particular skills? Does your child need an adult to talk to other than you? Is there a school newspaper, or sports team, or neighborhood organization that needs adult mentors? Do you want to invest a few hours a week in a young person and don't know anyone who needs you? Tell us about yourself and what you have to offer.

Previous Commentsshow

Donna, This sounds really great.† I have longed believed in taking the iniative to make something happen.† As far as drop-outs are concerned we offer a G-E-D program every Tuesday and Thursday at my church 5:30-7:30 it is FREE.† We would even provide transportation for those that would need it!††The venue is Hanging Moss Church of Christ 5225 Hanging Moss Road.† If you could post this that would be great.† My show on WMPR on Wednesday nights is available to get the word out about our youth.† As well as my Thursday TV piece on public access. † Our ministry called Community Outreach is available for mentoring/speaking or whatever just let me know.† † Keep up the good work! † Othor† †

Othor

May 7 2003

Othor Cain's e-mail address is: [email]coolokc@hotmail.com[/email] or call [email]Greg432309@aol.com[/email] He gets the gold star for quickest response!

ladd

May 7 2003

The Mississippi Voter Project (MVP), Rock the Vote and Rap the Vote need youth and adult volunteers as well. We're already having a lot of fun registering young people to vote and talking up voting to those too young to vote, yet, and giving away free fake tatoos and stuff -- last Friday at Bob Moses Day at Lanier High and the Friday before at St. Andrews Episcopal School. This Friday, we're appearing at the Boys and Girls Club, along with rapper David Banner (!) to talk to 200 kids about voting and getting involved. I'll get y'all info on volunteering for the Boys and Girls Club; if you've done it already, tell us how. Meantime, though, this voter project is shaping up to be a LOT of fun. If you want to volunteer, or know a teen who would like to, e-mail Bingo at [email]mvp@jacksonfreepress.com[/email], or call the office here at 354.5291. We need people to help man our tent at Jubilee! JAM, and we have free tickets to offer in exchange. ;-D Also, if you have something you'd like to donate to give away at the MVP appearances, let us know. Everybody likes free stuff. So, sign on up, baby!

ladd

May 7 2003

The Jackson Free Press also welcomes high school interns. If you know a young person with writing, artistic, cartooning, organizing and other creative skills who needs something fun to do this summer, have him or her get in touch with me! 354.5291

ladd

May 7 2003

Thanks to the reader who just sent this info. It would be great to hear some experiential advice, too, when someone has a chance ... Big Brothers and Big Sisters of MS www.bbbms.org 961.9286 175 East Capitol Street, Suite 222 8:00-5:00 Mon-Fri Boys and Girls Clubs www.bgccm.net 969.7088 1450 West Capitol 372.9090 4350 Raymond Road 372.4111 470 Sykes Road 859.9847 W. Union Street 922.2205 Country Club Dr. (Whiterock Housing) Stewpot Community Teen Center 948.2941 1100 W. Capitol Street 3:00-6:00 Mon-Thurs

ladd

May 7 2003

My X-husband's son, 11, desparately needs help that I can not provide. He is living with his mother in South Jackson with a variety of other siblings (older and younger) and needs positive male role models and experiences. There is another male child, who should be 14 or 15 now, who is very angry and violent with the other children. If you can help them, perhaps they can break the family mold of insufficient education and poverty. Thanks JudyKay Jefferson [email]Greg432309@aol.com[/email]

ladd

May 7 2003

This is a wonderful idea. IT IS THE BREAK DOWN OF THE FAMILY STRUCTURE & DISCIPLINE that *IS* contributing heavily to the crime in Jackson...

dang ol' philip

May 8 2003

Philip, I think you would be a *great* mentor. Why don't you get some kids in need of male role models involved with some of your filmmaking. Don't forget: Young people love to play with technology, and many of them just don't have access to very much. You could do worlds of good, I'd guess. Donna

ladd

May 8 2003

Hey all, John Lawrence at Downtown Partners, who mentored in other cities before coming here, says he has some weekend time to offer some young people who could use an adult male friend. He is also offering a couple of Jubilee Jam tickets to the first mentor who wants to take their mentoree to Jubilee! JAM one day. E-mail him at [email]jlawrence@downtown-jackson.com[/email] on either point. Thanks, John!

ladd

May 8 2003

Just ran across the Web site about crime prevention for young people. I haven't had time to dig deep into it, but it's a national program that talks a lot about mentoring, role models and the like. Check it out; bet we could find some ideas, and perhaps resources, in this: http://www.weprevent.org/

ladd

May 8 2003

Even more reason for mentors: http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0305/13/m01.html Seems our local children could use some tutors!

Knol Aust

May 13 2003

For anyone who's interested in helping our young people, this youth mag will give you lots of ideas on what they're talking/thinking about (and could be a good writing outlets for mentees): http://www.wiretapmag.org/

ladd

May 19 2003

JACKSON MENTORS! This mentoring project is growing some muscular legs. I'm tentatively calling it "Jackson Mentors" and am scheduling meetings with a variety of folks who want to help out -- from Mr. Charles Evers and WMPR, to Nickel G and Hot 97, to city officials, to a film company that wants to document our efforts to help our young citizens. Please get involved somehow. This is one of those projects in which you can use your strengths to help young people in the community, to make the city's future brighter and more lucrative, and to help lower crime immediately. Imagine a young person you decide to help is working with you on a fun project on the very day that he or she might have hooked up with the wrong folks and done something stupid and life-changing. Being the change is really this simple, Free Pressers, and feels so much better than complaining. Please, please get involved. Please write me asap, or post here, if you'd like to be involved or have ideas. We'll be back in touch shortly with an update on what comes next.

ladd

May 22 2003

Promise Keepers will be at the Mississippi Coliseum on June 6-7. This is an excellent way for men and young men in our community to learn how to mentor our youth and keep our families together and growing with the Lord. Read this powerful testimony for decide for yourself: http://www.promisekeepers.org/test/test14.htm The meeting here in Jackson is sold out but there are many churches in our area that have some extra tickets. Don't miss this exciting event and opportunity to help your family, your church and your community.

TC Stein

May 29 2003