Jackson Free Press

Every year, Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex, or APAC, and its staff and students partner with their adopters, the law firm of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, for a community project. In the past they have worked with local organizations including Baptist Children's Village, and last year they raised $3,000 in a penny drive that went toward the construction of a new living area for two elephants at the zoo. This year, they decided to collaborate on a Habitat For Humanity home at 924 Hunt St. in Jackson. On Saturdays in February and March, students ages 16 or older and their performing arts instructors can volunteer to work on the house.

Power APAC assistant principal and performing arts coordinator Sharon Wheeler said the first Saturday of construction was overwhelmingly productive. "It was fabulous," Wheeler says enthusiastically. "In one day we were able to … install floor joists, we laid the floor, we cut the wood for and built all of the exterior frames and the interior wall frames."

In the weeks leading up to the dedication of the home, Power APAC students will work on their artistic gifts to the receiving family. Visual arts students will create and frame their work to hang in the home, and the vocal music students will sing at the dedication ceremony. Also, elementary school students in the Open Doors gifted program will help with landscaping.

"It's part of character building in terms of giving them the opportunity, in a very significant way, to give back. Giving back in a Habitat build is definitely a hands-on experience," Wheeler says.

"These young people are able to work beside a person who is in need and is going to benefit very directly by something that they are doing, and the whole cycle of it is a beautiful picture."

Previous Comments

ID

68257

Comment

Kudos to Power APAC for their community involvement!

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-14T20:32:25-06:00