ALBANY — John Culbreath is maybe among the funniest non-practicing comedians in the city of Albany, his garrulous laugh and quick wit constantly all set to inject a little humor in to a lot of Any sort of situation.
But as quickly as Culbreath and his brothers in the Gamma Omicron Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity talk concerning their Project Alpha Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Retreat, they’re all of business, their words emphasizing the passion they have actually for among the signature outreach programs the fraternity sponsors each year.
“We hope to be a section of aiding these young men on their trip of finding it within themselves to be much better men,” Culbreath, the retired Dougherty County School System superintendent, said. “The points we do are to guidance these young men get hold of on a road from middle school, to higher school, and on to college, vocational school or the military.
“We all of talk concerning exactly how considerably points have actually changed, However the points that worked as quickly as I was coming along in the ’50s and ’60s are the very same kinds of points that job now. The one-on-one contact along with these young men at an age as quickly as you can easily reach them, the positive mentoring, means so considerably to the progression of a boy as he starts making in to a man.”
The annual retreat, which has actually been sponsored by the Albany Alpha Phi Alpha chapter for a lot more compared to three decades, gives middle school-aged boys an opportunity to learn the truths concerning their burgeoning sexuality, and offers fact-based instruction that helps them divide naked truth from the myths that they hear on the playgrounds.
“For numerous of these young men, this is the just opportunity they’ll have actually to talk concerning a pretty vital aspect of their lives along with a male authority figure,” project coordinator Dr. William Berry said as he ready to examine participants in at Mt. Zion Baptist Church’s Family Focus Friday. “Almost all the teen pregnancy prevention programs that are available are geared toward the girls. We believe it’s vital for boys to have actually an discovering of their section in this process prior to they come to be sexually active.
“There is enjoyable time and tasks planned for the young men, However we Will certainly talk to them concerning responsibility, concerning the adjustments that are occurring in their bodies, concerning STDs, concerning the social, psychological, legal and medical aspects of teen pregnancy.”
Around 25 boys from regional middle schools, some the sons of Alpha members, others recommended by counselors in regional schools, took section in the retreat over the weekend, spending Friday evening, Friday night and Saturday at the Kolomoki Mounds historic site near Blakely.
Experts, including Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards, Lt. Keron Hayes along with the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, robotics instructors Roderick and Bobby Hand, Youth progression Specialist Marcus Girard, physician Dr. Devell Young and Albany State University head football coach Dan Land, were among the scheduled presenters that spoke along with the youngsters over three Saturday sessions.
Berry said the retreat is held in conjunction along with the March of Dimes.
“That great organization is concerning preventing premature youngster birth,” the dental practitioner said. “among the issues along with teen pregnancy is premature births.”
Single mom Lashanda Williams dropped two of her sons — 13-year-old D’Andre Fee and 11-year-old Milton Fee — off at Mt. Zion Friday for the retreat. She said the pregnancy prevention regimen is a “wonderful opportunity.”
“This regimen takes so considerably burden off me and various other single mothers,” Williams said. “I talk along with my sons, However I can easily just go so deep along with the subject. It’s a touchy subject for a great deal of parents, and it means so considerably to have actually men share along with them. I likewise believe kids have actually a tendency to open up a lot more to others compared to they would certainly their own parents.”
Radium Middle School instructional coach Zeporia Bass recommended a variety of the middle schoolers for the retreat.
“This is something that doesn’t simply impact the young individuals involved, it impacts the community in a positive way,” Bass said. “These young individuals are our leaders of the next generation, and they should learn responsibility. For a great deal of them, these gentlemen are the just adult men that Will certainly impact their young lives.
“This is likewise the very first opportunity numerous of them have actually to get hold of from town. It’s a terrific regimen all of around, a sort of chain reaction program. The students that are reached at the retreat Will certainly delivering a person else along, and a positive cycle starts. These young men can easily take points from this regimen that Will certainly guidance them have actually a bright future.”
Alpha T. Marshall Jones, a longtime Albany State University instructor and a fixture in the arts community, said he’s seen the impact of the Project Alpha regimen over the lifetime of its existence, started by former educator Ozell Kelly a lot more compared to three decades ago.
“Times have actually changed in the 63 years I’ve been a section of this fraternity,” Jones said. “I’ve seen programs enjoy this one and the Visit higher School, Visit College regimen actually impact young men’s lives. And even along with the changing times, these sort of programs guidance make our community and the young individuals in it better.”
Alpha Phi Alpha Will certainly hold an awards banquet for campers on April 26 at Mt. Zion’s Westover Boulevard multipurpose room. Awards Will certainly be provided for achievement, brotherhood, leadership, civility and a composed essay.
