RISE college students wrap up summer season college with Waynesboro council, college board discussion board

WAYNESBORO — College students within the RISE summer season program hung out this previous June finding out points that they felt have been essential for youth within the Waynesboro space. They narrowed their matters down to at least one difficulty and, on Friday, about 20 college students offered the subject throughout a discussion board with candidates for Waynesboro Metropolis Council and College Board.

“The widespread thread was to develop the neighborhood heart,” mentioned Chanda McGuffin, co-founder of RISE, an advocacy group whose mission is to offer voice and hope to the Black neighborhood. The tutorial wing of the group offers after-school and summer season tutoring applications for space youth working to construct confidence and train essential considering.

The scholars offered their concepts to the candidates Friday. Among the many concepts was increasing the Rosenwald Neighborhood Heart on Port Republic Street by including a bowling alley, a pool and a bounce park.

“We wish to develop the neighborhood heart with a bounce park,” one of many college students defined. “As a result of a bounce park is a enjoyable place for youths.”

The scholars defined that bodily exercise was good for youths and a fantastic place to bond with different youngsters. They even got here armed with statistics, together with info from the Virginia Division of Well being that claims 13% of the state’s youth between 10 and 17 years previous are obese. The RISE college students advised the candidates it was essential to search out methods to maintain youth lively.

The candidates rigorously responded to the concepts, explaining that, whereas they have been good concepts and that youth did want extra issues to do within the space, plenty of analysis must be performed to ensure the concepts have been viable.

“I need to commend all of you for having the ability to bear in mind these statistics and the data you’re relaying again, and your bravery for standing as much as ask these questions,” mentioned Nigel Stewart, a candidate for the college board’s at-large seat.

Stewart is a graduate of Waynesboro Excessive College and Virginia State College. He’s at the moment the vice-chair of the Waynesboro planning fee.

“It is essential that (the children) see somebody who appears like me and is considerably near their age,” mentioned Stewart, who’s African-American and graduated from highschool in 2019. “Illustration is an actual factor. I bear in mind going to center college and highschool and never seeing plenty of educators who seemed like me.”

When he did see these educators, particularly in school, it impacted his growth.

“It gave me plenty of hope and the chance that I might really obtain this stuff,” Stewart mentioned. “My outlook has all the time been not just for the well-being of my household, my neighborhood, but additionally those that are coming after me. That is who we’re actually setting the stage for. Applications and actions like these profit that future growth.”

Stewart was certainly one of two college board candidates who took half within the occasion Friday, becoming a member of Erika Smith, the present Ward B consultant who’s working for reelection. On town council facet, Ward A candidates David Goetze and Lorie Strother, Ward B candidate Will Flory and at-large candidate Jeremy Sloat took half within the discussion board.

Like Stewart, Smith was additionally impressed with the presentation by the scholars Friday.

“It says loads for our college students and academics and faculties,” Smith mentioned. “And our neighborhood partnerships, like RISE and different neighborhood organizations, are doing good issues. They requested actually laborious questions and I am undecided my solutions have been nearly as good as their questions.”

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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The Information Chief. Story concepts and ideas all the time welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and comply with him on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com

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