In a continued effort to provide at-risk youth with more services to increase graduation rates, Communities In Schools (CIS) of Georgia is partnering with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia to bring the Straight Talk program to the network. Local affiliates in Atlanta, Cobb and Henry counties will be the first to implement the program.
The goal is to reduce negative behaviors that cause students to drop out of school, while also creating positive student role models. The innovative program will provide an opportunity for high school students who are at-risk of dropping out to participate in monthly meetings. During the sessions, students will connect with others in their neighborhood so they can discuss topics such as crime, incarceration, bullying, gangs and other issues affecting their ability to learn and reach their full potential.
A select number of participants will create a video presentation that include elements of their discussions about the impact crime has had on their lives and surrounding communities, and recommended solutions based on the meetings and other facets of what they have learned from Straight Talk. The video will then be presented as part of a public awareness campaign at a local town hall meeting to share the knowledge gained through the partnership.
These types of partnerships provide additional resources and demonstrate to students that negative behavior and dropping out of school is not the way to a better future. Carol Lewis, Chief Operating Officer for CIS of Georgia, saw the potential with the Straight Talk program; and we’re hoping the students’ video will convey the importance of taking responsibility and how they can make their community a safer environment.