Photo by Chanel Davis
Alvin Atkinson
addresses com
munity part
ners last week
at Flat Rock
Middle School.
Program promoted as prison deterrent
-v Jk.
BY CHANEL DAVIS
THE CHRONICLE
The Center for Community Safety
(CCS) thinks its S.T.A.R.S. (Students
Taking Action and Reaching Success)
program can help clog the so-called
"school-to-prison" pipeline that over
whelming favors blacks
(UIU l^UllllUS.
The Winston-Salem
State University-founded
Center - in conjunction
with Winston
Salem/Forsyth County
Schools - launched
S.T.A.R.S. at Philo-Hill,
Hanes, Flat Rock, East
Forsyth and Northwest
middle schools two years
ago. Last school year, 432
vtliH<>ntc rvirt in th<>
>1|UUVII|.> IV<VI\ pun III HIV
program, which focuses on building
students' strengths and goal-setting,
while also stressing positive self
esteem, social competency and con
flict resolution. Activities are held dur
ing the school day and after- school.
"We have to work together to do
things positively for o^t-youth so that
they can begin to take advantage of
what is put in front of them," CCS
Executive Director Alvin Atkinson
said last week at Flat Rock as he tout
ed the benefits and potential of the
program."We need to help our stu
dents really get to know themselves by
connecting them with positive adults.
S.T.A.R.S. really does help that stu
dent who is below the average grade
level."
CCS says the need for S.T.A.R.S.
A.
and programs like it is great.
According to the agency, last year. 720
local children were referred to juvenile
court for intake - 100 more than were
referred the year prior. Furthermore,
CCS found that black children were
five times more likely to be referred,
and Latino youth were three times
more likely. The kids' prob
terns can be traced back to
the classroom, according to
the agency. Seventy-five per
cent of those referred report
ed having moderate to seri
ous problems in school.
"Over 80 percent of the
crime committed in our
community is by youth 16
and over. We have a dispro
portionate number of
African American and
ii" i
nispanic maie suspensions,
as well." Atkinson said. "That's a soci
etal issue because resources are not
available to help give alternatives to
that referral."
Carol Montague-Davis, assistant
superintendent of middle and high
school administration, is a fan of
S.T.A.R.S. and thinks it allows the
school system to be preventive instead
of reactive.
"Anything that we can put into
place to help our students become
leaders and make great choices and
decisions that will not impact their
futures negatively but positively is
good," she said
Flat Rock Principal Laura Hodges
said 65 students at her school are
enrolled in the program, so many that
Montague-Davis
there is a waiting list. The Flat Rock
S.T.A.R.S. program now includes an
after-school tutorial component.
"I saw a big change in the stu
dents' confidence level. 1 saw a
tremendous turn-around in several of
the students' attitudes (and in) students
who had lots of behavioral issues or
were struggling in class," Hodges said.
She said that she has received
great feedback from parents and
teachers.
Eighth-grader Tymarrah Dubose
said that the program has allowed her
to come out of her shell.
"All of sixth grade. 1 was never
confident and was nervous around
everybody. I feel more open now with
people and I can ask teachers ques
tions that 1 don't ask my regular
teacher," said Tymarrah, who enjoys
the extra curricular activities the pro
gram offers, especially martial arts.
Atkinson has faith that S.T.A.R.S.
can keep students out of court and
focused on the things that matter.
"If we are able to really keep our
middle schoolers from choosing crime
as an option, what a benefit. If these
students begin doing what they need to
do, then our community will flourish,
because they will then be better edu
cated. bring in more income and
become more civic-minded," he said.
"We believe we can do it if we work
together. It does take a village."
To donate to S.TAJtS. or sponsor
one of the kids in the program, visit
wwyv.starsstrategy.org.
Mitchell at Wake
WFU Pho?o
Wake Forest President Nathan Hatch (right)
engages former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell in con
versation on Wednesday, Oct. 1 on the WFU cam
pus. During his more than 15 years in the Senate,
the Maine Democrat served as Senate Majority
Leader and was credited with helping to broker
landmark legislation. The talk was part of Wake's
The Leadership Project, which aims to engage
members of the campus community with com
pelling stories of personal leadership. A crowd of
300 student leaders attended the invitation-only
event. They were nominated by faculty and staff.
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