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Young Leaders Expand Their Skills At Breakthrough
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 | Johnetta and Johneisha are role models in
their community.
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Like
youngsters everywhere, the children in East Garfield Park look up to
the high school students in their neighborhood. Unfortunately, many
sell drugs or are involved in gangs. Some have dropped out of school or
skip classes, and some are sexually active. There are, however, several
positive role models who are concerned for the young children in their
community. And many of them are involved at Breakthrough Urban
Ministries.
Johnetta and Joneisha are two of these young community leaders. The sisters are "mayors" in Breakthrough's "Earn While You Learn" Program, one aspect of the Nettie Bailey Student Achievement Program.
Although this is the first year that they have been involved at
Breakthrough, both young ladies already had many useful skills and a
good sense of responsibility. Now, they are able to further develop
these abilities and put them into practice on a regular basis. Each of this year's seven mayors
is assigned an age group of students that they are responsible for
during after-school activities. Their main duties include tutoring and
peer mediation.
"Johnetta is the mayor of a very tough group," says 6-12th grade Academic Coordinator, Seth El-Jamal.
"The 8th graders she leads are at the age where they think they are
'too cool' to learn and do well in school. But Johnetta knows when to
apply a bit of positive peer pressure, and when things are going well
in the group, she encourages them."
According to Seth,
Joneisha also has a tough group to lead. "She has the 5th graders," he
says. "They still like learning, but it's a lot harder for them to sit
still. Joneisha's strength is her consistency. She does a lot of
juggling to make sure that the needs of everyone in her group are met."
Ten year old Ashley is one of the younger girls tutored by Johneisha.
"She is always here for us and talks to us about good things," she
says. "She is someone I look up to."
The girls are raised by
their grandmother, Bettye Sherrod. She is grateful for the
opportunities they are exposed to. "It's nice that the girls can earn
their own money," she says. "They can treat themselves to things that
young girls like." She adds, "Breakthrough is a safe place for the
girls, and I am so thankful that they put an emphasis on the same
Christian principles that I've tried to teach."
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