Children need community investment, pastors say

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

City school children need more than promises. They need investment.

“There needs to be more community and parental support of the children,” said the Rev. Gary Frost, prayer coordinator for Mission America Coalition. “There needs to be an investment in them.”

He and a group of pastors plan a March 4 Hope beginning at 1:45 p.m. Sunday at Price Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, 920 Dryden St. Participants will march about 1 mile from the church to East High School, where at 2:15 p.m. a prayer rally will begin.

Guests will include James Dru Joyce, basketball coach at Akron St. Vincent St. Mary High school, who was LeBron James’ high-school basketball coach; Jim Tressel, Youngstown State University president; and Krish Mohip, city schools chief executive officer.

The Rev. Mr. Frost said the pastors’ group also is working with the city school district’s Parent Pathways program, which is led by Linda Hoey.

The pastors also are looking for volunteers for what they dub “Nvest.” It’s a character enrichment group and has a tagline, “Investing Now in the Attitudinal, Academic, Artistic and Athletic success of students.”

An informational meeting is set for 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 19 at Rising Star Baptist Church, 2943 Wardle Ave.

“We’re prayer warriors, and we’re praying for East High School in particular and the Youngstown schools in general,” Mr. Frost said.

School resumes Monday for city school children.

For nine years, four pastors – the Rev. Kenneth Donaldson and Lloyd Hughes, both of Rising Star; and the Rev. Julius Davis and Minister Leroy Simmons, both of Friendship Baptist Church, Girard – have been coming to East High School, providing support for students who need it.

Henrietta Williams, retired East High School principal, asked the Rev. Mr. Donaldson to help at the school when the new building opened for the 2007-08 school year. Williams also is a member of Rising Star.

The clergymen have seen four East principals during that time.

“We’ve been sanctioned by all of the principals,” Mr. Donaldson said. “We’re there to help them and to help the students.”

The pastors also provide a

professional, black male role model, he said. Other pastors have joined the effort.

They listen to a student’s concerns, support and counsel a child who’s going through a difficult time or cheer a student on from the stands during a sporting event.

Mr. Donaldson said it’s about building a relationship with students, and it takes an investment of time and effort.

“And it has to be a long-term investment,” said Jocelyn Dabney of Rising Star.

The simplest thing, such as telling a child he or she can do something – pass a test, make a team – can make a big difference in a child’s life, said the Rev. Jack Pettis of Mount Zion Baptist Church.

It may be the first time an adult tells a child he or she is worth something, the pastors say.

The Rev. Rafael Cruz of Unity Baptist Church said some children struggle because they come from families that struggle.

“They need someone to speak life into them,” the Rev. Mr. Cruz said.

Williams recalls a situation in 2009 after her retirement when she was called back to help after a school cheerleader collapsed and died.

“The students looked at me and said, ‘Where are our pastors?’” she said.

The Rev. Mr. Frost said the group isn’t political, and its members aren’t planning to become political.

“No matter what the structure is, our kids need help,” he said. “This is about the students.”

Minister Martha Taylor of Metro Assembly of God said it will take a community effort to help the students and the schools to succeed.

“We encourage everyone to come out,” Ms. Taylor said. “... They are our children, and it’s going to take all of us to bring about success.”