Hall-of-Famer Jim Brown tries to revive Amer-I-Can

March 5, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown said he’ll seek ways to revive a program that helped troubled teenagers stay in school and avoid violence in neighborhoods.

Brown’s Amer-I-Can Program had been working with about 800 students when it ran out of money last week. Students were referred to the classes because of problems with their grades, discipline or attendance.

“We carried it as far as we could,” Brown said. “We’re going to keep fighting to try to revive it.”

Since 2006, the program had received $2 million in startup money the Cleveland Browns Foundation and the family of Browns owner Randy Lerner. But a new benefactor never stepped up, and the city school district lacked money to pitch in.

Former Browns receiver Reggie Rucker, a national board member for the Los Angeles-based Amer-I-Can Program, said he and Brown covered about $80,000 in expenses while they sought a new benefactor.

School officials planned to evaluate the program this year to see whether it had improved grades, said Eric Gordon, the district’s chief academic officer. Preliminary evidence showed potential, he said.

At the start of each class, students would take turns venting their feelings. The remaining time was devoted to topics such as attitude, goal setting, job searches and financial stability.

Facilitator Ronald White worked with students who are behind a grade level. White said he encouraged kids to take responsibility for their lives, but he also tried to help them cope with hopelessness and anger.

Gerald Williams, a 17-year-old junior, took White’s class last semester. He said he valued the chance to express himself and learned to control his temper.

“That’s a great class,” he said. “A lot of people changed their behavior because of that.”

Shon Banks, who worked as Peace Squad member in the program, said teens respected him and heeded his instructions to walk away from fights. He worries about trouble erupting now that he is off the job.

“There’s always something going on in these neighborhoods,” Banks said. “Pretty much every day, you got to get around and make sure everything’s cool.”