Event to help at-risk pupils

The events will span a three-day period.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- National black celebrities will take to the basketball court next weekend in an effort to show area young people that they do not have to take to the streets.
Violence Free Youngstown and the Keep Educating Youth all Seasons (KEYS) program will be hosting a weekend of events aimed at keeping middle school pupils off the streets and in school with decent grades.
Saturday's celebrity basketball game at Youngstown State University will be preceded and followed by other events Friday and Sunday for parents as well as pupils. The game will include celebrities such as rapper Coolio, actor Terrance Howard from the film "Best Man" and actress Tichina Arnold from the television show "Martin."
According to the Rev. Willie F. Peterson, Violence Free Youngstown coordinator, the celebrity-filled weekend is an introduction to the yearlong KEYS 4.0 program, a program geared toward educating, entertaining and encouraging pupils.
Begins Friday
The event will kick off Friday with pupil enrollment in the program at the Rockford Village Center in Rockford Village on the city's East Side. A victims-of-violence breakfast will be held Saturday morning at the Mahoning County Country Club, hosted by recording artist Chris "Play" Martin of Kid 'N Play fame.
The celebrity basketball game will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in YSU's Beeghly Stadium with celebrities from the world of rap music, television and movies taking to the court. The Rev. Mr. Peterson said the message to pupils will be clear, even with the famous faces and fun atmosphere.
"This game is somewhat entertainment for the kids, but they will hear the entertainers telling their life's stories and encourage them to sign up and commit to being drug-free, truant-free and strive for a 4.0 grade point average," said Mr. Peterson.
Pledge cards
During the game, pupils will be given pledge cards and asked to sign the cards committing to good grades, good school attendance, no crime and no drug use.
The cards will be given to Youngstown school officials and funneled back to the KEYS program for follow up with pupils.
According to Mr. Peterson, the program will work with those pupils not keeping the pledge in an effort to "assess and address" why those goals are not being met.
Mr. Peterson acknowledges that some may criticize the basketball game and weekend events as not being the right method to reach young people who may need help staying on course, but he said it is important to use whatever means are available to send a message to those young people.
"I am doing what I can do to promote change " he said.
"This will let the youth here see a different side of life that they would not normally get to see unless they leave Youngstown. Our community needs this."
There will be a post game performance by Lil J and Ruff Endz.
The weekend will come to a close Sunday afternoon with a victims-of-violence gospel brunch at 2:30 p.m. at the Mahoning County Country Club featuring gospel recording act Pam & amp; Dodi.
jgoodwin@vindy.com