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Youngstown woman has monthly events in outreach program for youths
Nonprofit aims for youths to help build a better community
By Bruce Walton
YOUNGSTOWN
Ramona Martin-Jones, CEO and founder of the A Time for Recovery Outreach program, said she sees herself in youths she assists.
To her, she sees them all as her children, and she loves to see the result of her work when they come back to show her their diplomas from schools and check stubs from their new jobs.
“It makes me feel great just to know they are actually improving and making positive decisions because that’s what this is about,” she said. “Trying to make good decisions and prosper in life.”
On Saturday, the ATFRO program will host its monthly event “How High is Your Self-Esteem?” where attendants will take a test. Martin-Jones will share helpful hints and techniques on how young people can build their self-confidence.
The nonprofit organization has been Martin-Jones’ brainchild since 2012. It is “designed for youth age 14-21 to help build a better community by getting the youths off the streets and creating a safe environment through making positive decisions and raising low self-esteem by getting to the root of the situation,” according to the ATFRO Facebook page.
Over the past four years, Martin-Jones said she has helped nearly 25 youths through her program, most of them from the inner-city Youngstown area.
As an evangelist, Martin-Jones said God plays a very important role in her program as well.
“Before we do anything, we pray in the opening and we pray before we leave,” she said.
Although she doesn’t push Christianity on her students, she strongly believes in the difference prayer can make.
In the future, Martin-Jones said she wants to expand to a more permanent location rather than at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County’s main branch.
“I know there’s a lot of places here already that do what I do, but my vision is not like their vision,” she said.
The ATFRO Saturday event will be in the main branch library’s meeting room, 305 Wick Ave., from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For information, or to make a donation, contact Martin-Jones at 330-565-2118 or by email at atime4recovery@hotmail.com.