Program promotes youths' self-esteem

Former convicts sometimes school youths in making positive life changes.
By SARAH WEBER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- After struggling to deal with violence, broken homes, teenage pregnancy, joblessness and even homelessness, many city youths turn to a life of crime or at least a life below their potentials.
What can be done for these troubled youths? National Football League Hall-of-Famer and Founder of the Amer-I-Can program Jim Brown says, "Give them self-esteem."
Brown's program, founded in 1988, focuses on giving at-risk youth self-determination through life skills training so that they have the tools and attitude to achieve success. The program consists of 60 to 90 hours of class time that covers 15 chapters on topics such as motivation, financial stability, family relationships and decision making.
"It's a big vision but it's not complicated," Brown said Friday at a press conference in the mayor's office in city hall.
Brown was invited to the city by Mayor Jay Williams in conjunction with local businessman Bruce Zoldan to discuss implementing the Amer-I-Can program in Youngstown city schools.
"We as elected officials ... cannot take the place of fathers and brothers, but we can't turn a blind eye," Williams said.
While the discussions are preliminary, Williams and Zoldan hope to have the program in place within the next year.
"An end result ... hopefully you'll see crime reduced and you'll see more Youngstown people go to our university and other universities," Zoldan said. "The business community can quietly get involved by providing financial support and working with the mayor."
Who teaches?
The Amer-I-Can program's success in Los Angeles and other cities can be partially attributed to its unique approach to hiring teachers. Brown said that up to 95 percent of the staff are former gang members and former convicts.
"It's important to have what we call in Youngstown, 'street cred,'" said Williams. "These are individuals that can speak very validly about their experiences."
The program's teachers have learned firsthand the benefits of taking responsibility for their lives and actions and because many have similar backgrounds to those of the youths they educate, the message rings loud and clear.
Williams said, "I believe if our young people are offered a positive alternative they will ... take the initiative."