Dozens gathered in Conway Saturday morning to raise awareness of the need for a youth center in the city.
The mentoring group, ELITE- empowering leaders in & through education, wants a place for at risk teens to spend their time with positive role models.
They hoped the march would give voice to their cause, “we’re talking about a teen center where everyone can come, where there is no fee. We’re speaking to the young people in particular because its so important to understand that we need to develop these young folks,” said Abdullah Mustafa, president of the NAACP of Conway, who attended the march.
Others who attended says young people in the community are too often overlooked, “I’ve heard with my own ears that theres nothing better to do than to turn to parties and to turn to drugs; and its as easy to get drugs as tobacco products,” said 21 year old Tyson Larramore.
So members and mentors with ELITE are teaming up to present an alternative.
“We’re trying to make a better future for them and show them that they need to be in gangs or smoke crack or anything,” said Jav-ion Moore, not even a teenager himself.
Mentors in the program say it’s important to build upon a foundation, laid by past generations.
“Thats important because i had the same thing coming from my neighborhood. I had individuals who believed in building me up as a man and i think that’s the only way we help as a community,” said Michael James, who coaches ELITE’s basketball team, the Tigers.
With the hopes of building a better future even for kids who may have taken the wrong turn in their lives.
“Its never too late to change, you always have time to become a better person, you always have time to better yourself. Especially with our mentors, they’ll help you get through your time of transition,” said Terrell Fredrick.
The group has set up a gofundme account in the hopes of getting enough money to open and operate a center for one year.