Schools

T.C. Williams to Host Minority Male Mentoring Partnership

Program to provide mentors for 30 minority male high school students

A new program at T.C. Williams High School will provide mentors for 30 male minority students in partnership with the Northern Virginia Urban League and Old Town Alexandria's Alfred Street Baptist and Shiloh Baptist churches.

The opening ceremony of the initiative took place last week at the high school. Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) joined Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman and students in celebrating the initiative.

Moran said he had envisioned the effort after reading a newspaper article in fall 2009 quoting students who said they lacked positive adult intervention in their lives. He reached out the church pastors to work on forming a program.

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Superintendent Sherman said this program "can benefit students and all of us," noting that the mentors who are volunteering their time are scientists, lawyers and doctors at the top of their fields.

"These positive role models will help," Sherman said at the Alexandria City School Board meeting Thursday night, adding that he thought it was poignant when one of the participating reverends pointed out "when you sell drugs, someone is helping you sell drugs."

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The churches will provide mentors and a structure for the program while the Urban League will provide corporate access for the students including internships and summer jobs.


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