Helping kids stay on right track

By Sean Barron

Most family members spend far more time watching TV than interacting, a speaker said.

YOUNGSTOWN — Brandon Williams enjoys playing chess, but his experience with Warriors Inc. has given him a lot more than practice for checkmating his opponent.

“My mom wanted me in the program, and it’s helping me make better decisions in life,” the 15-year-old Campbell Memorial High School ninth-grader said.

Being part of Warriors Inc. has influenced Brandon’s decisions to attend college and play football. It’s also given him a greater ability to appreciate consequences of choices he makes, Brandon added.

Brandon was one of perhaps 50 youngsters and adults to attend Saturday’s Warriors of Manhood and Totally You Girl kickoff celebration at the Byzantine Center at the Grove, 3801 Shady Run Road on the city’s South Side.

Speaking at the two-hour event were Sonya Williams, wife of Mayor Jay Williams; William Blake, Youngstown State University’s director of student diversity; and Guy Burney, an entrepreneur and diversity trainer.

Warriors Inc. is an enrichment program started in 1998 that focuses on education and building leadership skills in males and females ages 9 to 25. The program also tries to be a positive outlet for young people and a positive force in the community, explained Joe McGeorge, executive director.

Specific programs will be every other Saturday beginning Oct. 25 at Eagle Heights Academy, 1833 Market St.

Also benefiting from being with Warriors Inc. is 17-year-old Alaina Holmes of Youngstown, a Chaney High School senior, who learned to play chess and hopes to attend YSU to major in accounting and advertising. A few months in, Warriors Inc. has shaped her ambitions, Alaina said, adding that she’s also befriended a few people there.

Playing chess and going fishing are the favorite activities of DeShawn Javey, 15, a Youngstown Early College sophomore.

DeShawn, who’s been with Warriors 18 months and wants to become a pharmacist, said she appreciated having a mentor who she says has helped her stay on the right path to make better decisions.

Blake’s presentation centered on building deeper relationships between fathers and their children. He cited several biblical references that discuss the roles of males mentoring to their youngsters.

“The children are looking to us as grown folks to guide them and help them stay on the right path,” he added.

Blake advised fathers to help their children reach beyond the fathers’ boundaries and to help the youngsters develop a deeper relationship with God.

Williams told the youngsters they have the power not only to make good choices, but to resist pressure to make poor ones, such as having unprotected sex and using violence against someone they’re angry with.

Accomplishing goals starts with the right attitude, she continued.

“If you say you can’t, you won’t; if you say you can, you will,” she said to applause.

Family members need to spend more time interacting with one another, Williams said.

In the average home, the TV is on about 50 hours a week; by contrast, meaningful conversation in the average residence is around 38 minutes weekly, she noted.

Burney shared a story about his wife falling off a galloping horse and getting hurt, and later learning she would likely have suffered a greater injury had she continued riding the animal because the barn door was too low.

The story was a metaphor for the importance of knowing when it’s better to let go of something — such as being with peers who make poor decisions — than to hang on to it.

“Do not let people push you to make choices you shouldn’t make,” Burney advised. “Choices are long-lasting and life-changing.”

Warriors Inc. has about 150 people signed up, including 50 in an after-school program.

Warriors features a community bike club, chess club, gardening, individual and group mentoring, a book club and a Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs group.

Donating gifts to the celebration were the Cleveland Cavaliers, Target and Custom Awards.

To become a mentor or volunteer, call Sparkil Alli, activity coordinator, at (330) 783-5440.