Jazmund Walker
By JAZMUND WALKER
When I was growing up, my parents often struggled with keeping the bills paid while working numerous jobs to make ends meet. Many of my classmates and some of my friends became pregnant in middle and high school. In school, I would watch as students often disrespected their teachers and, in turn, the teachers cursed at and degraded the students.
A high school teacher once told a student,”You’re never gonna make it; you’re never gonna be anything!” Although it was hard for me to keep my head up in an environment that seemed to be destitute of positivism, hope, encouragement and success, my parents made sure I did not succumb to the circumstances of my environment. Unfortunately, some of my peers struggled with authority figures in their lives or didn’t have positive, responsible role models.
But in every neighborhood, in the midst of all the jagged edges, there’s greatness. It just needs to be properly cultivated. Many inner-city youth face challenges that crush their inner being and defect their personal development. One demographic I’ve always been keen to helping is female youths.
I’ve noticed that some girls have lost respect and love for themselves. I believe they can benefit greatly from the guidance of someone from their same background or situation — someone close to their age who can listen to, understand, and relate to their struggle.
Last year, I decided to finally tackle my lifelong goal of starting the change I would like to see in my community. With this in mind, I decided to start LIFT (Leadership, Intellect and Femininity Training).
In high school, I came up with the idea of starting an organization to empower inner-city youths, but due to lack of time, focus, general support and other personal circumstances, I postponed the idea. Last summer, I was fortunate enough to receive a $1,000 grant from mtvU and Youth Venture Inc. to launch my organization.
LIFT’s mission is to empower and educate inner-city girls on essential life lessons that will strengthen them both interpersonally and intrapersonally.
The organization’s board members will accomplish this by hosting an intensive, two-week summer training program every year, and by providing mentorship to the girls throughout the year. The unique aspect of LIFT is that it is a program for youths by young adults. Most of the board members are age 25 and under but are mature, accomplished, intelligent, inspirational young women who are driven to help young girls. The program will provide trips, learning activities and mentorship, all free of charge, to the program participants.
The program will also cover topics such as etiquette, leadership, self-esteem and teen pregnancy prevention.
LIFT will launch this summer for girls ages 11-13 in the Norwood area of Birmingham. For information about the program, e-mail upliftingyouth@gmail.com or visit the Web site www.genv.net/en-us/team/lift.
Jazmund Walker of Birmingham is a graduate of Carver High School and a senior journalism student at UAB.
She is a contributing writer for Newsdesk. E-mail: jazmund.walker (at) gmail.com.
