Others paved a path for Chris Johnson; now, Augusta Richmond County’s chief deputy tax commissioner is doing the same for the next generation.
“What I got from the experiences of other adults, I’m giving it back,” said Johnson, who volunteers as an adviser through Project Impact, a life skills and leadership development program for high school students in the Augusta area. The organization held its orientation for students and parents Aug. 14 at the Kroc Center.
MORE: Augusta University Students Make Blankets As Part of LEAP Week
In its fifth year, the program started off training and mentoring high school boys, according to Steven Kendrick, Project Impact adviser and Augusta-Richmond County tax commissioner. However, this year, the organization is partnering with women from the Augusta Chapter of The Links Incorporated, a volunteer service agency, to mentor young women.
[adrotate banner=”54″]
Project Impact has several components including the mentoring aspect.
As a single mom, Raina Braithwaite appreciates having positive male role models in life of her son, Devin Heard.
“He’s become more grounded,” she said.
With the pandemic, last school year was a hard one for Heard, Braithwaite said. He contracted the virus at one point, and the isolation was hard for him. But his mentors and others reached out to him, sent him care packages and made sure he was okay.
That meant a lot to both of them, she said.
Mentors also check on his grades and make sure he’s progressing.
Johnson said the mentors check in at least once a week. Texting is the students’ preferred method of contact, he said, and sometimes they text mentors at all hours of the night.
“They do, and we want them to,” said Johnson, whose son was among the first members to graduate in the spring after having been part of the program their entire high school career.
[adrotate banner=”28″]
Members of Project Impact meet as a group one Saturday a month. All of them are enrolled in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta of which Kendrick serves as board chair. Each month has a topic for them to explore. Guest speakers often appear at the meetings.
Topics include financial literacy, economic development and growth, health care and politics and government.
Kendrick said students are encouraged to invest in a savings account, and any amount saved during the school year is matched at year’s end.
There’s also a counseling aspect to the program giving families group and individual counseling.
Kendrick said parental involvement is vital to the success of not only the program, but the students’ lifelong journey.
Character education and etiquette are also key aspects of the program as evidenced at Saturday’s orientation. Advisers introduced themselves and gave one character word.
[adrotate banner=”19″]
Yolanda Copeland’s word was “integrity.”
Copeland, The Links Incorporated’s president, said integrity is “being truthful at all times.” It’s a quality she’s sought to emulate all her life.
Others gave words such as motivation, timeliness, attentiveness and forgiveness.
MORE: Students Ready for School
Project Impact is a program of the E3 Leadership Foundation, a nonprofit “whose mission is to educate, empower and enlighten our community through programs and initiatives that are aimed at leadership and community development for youth and emerging leaders,” according to a brochure.
Kendrick is the chair of the E3 Leadership Foundation’s board of directors.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”56″]
