The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

December 29, 2009

Gospel concert in January to benefit rural teens

KIMBERLY BELLAMY

The flag football and basketball tournaments the town Parks and Recreation Department sponsors each year was a big part of Tarboro resident, Aarius Sherrod's life when he was younger, but looking back on it, he wishes there was more.

Now instead of hoping there was more for the younger generation, he's going to offer activities for the youth himself.

Sherrod is starting an organization called A+ Outreach and Enrichment to provide outlets for under privileged families to become engaged in activities that expose them to opportunities outside of Edgecombe County.

"Kids look at what's around them, and they think that's all it is, or they look at other's situation, and think that's all there is," Sherrod said.

"My goal and aim would be to help those families to see outside of that box."

Sherrod commended the Parks and Recreation Department for the work they do, but cited that he hasn't seen much variation in programs since he participated in them as a child.

"It's like we're setting them up to fail. The parents don't know any better because that's all they see," he said.

Parks and Recreation Athletic Director Warren Mitchell, who has been working at the department for 19 years, said they offer many programs, which are often recommendations from youth during roundtable discussions.

"If the kids suggest it, we'll try it if it's in reason," Mitchell said.

"We cater the programs to whatever kids want to do."

Current programs he mentioned they are offering include arts and crafts, 3-on-3 basketball, cooking classes, and the TAG program, which focuses on gang prevention.

Mitchell did admit that the turnout for the programs could be better.

"We're pretty pleased, but we would like to have more," he said.

Sherrod's first step in making an impact in youth's lives is sponsoring a gospel concert to benefit a non-profit organization called beGlobal, which was founded by Pinetops native Quenesha McNair.

McNair's organization was established in 2007, and exposes rural American teenagers to community service both in and out of the country.

Sherrod learned about beGlobal through post relating to the organization on the social networking Web site Facebook.

"Kids are my passion, and by working with kids, it was put in my heart to extend my hand to help her," he said.

McNair and Sherrod had mutual friends from high school, but didn't meet each other until connecting for the concert.

"It really made sense to collaborate and do something we felt passionate about," McNair said.

In addition to the concert, she started a blog Web site called At War With Statistics that sends rural teenagers a message that they have the potential to succeed.

McNair said that sometimes rural teens are oblivious to how they match up to kids in other communities.

"I want them to be at war with the statistics facing them. We are as talented, we are as ambitious," she said.

The concert to benefit the teens will be held on Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the McIntyre Building at Edgecombe Community College. Performers include Timothy McGuire of Tarboro, George Dickens Jr. of Tarboro and Dezrick Dickson of Durham.

Tickets are $12 for adults, and $7 for youth. Call Sherrod at 314-5141 for tickets.

To find out more about McNair organization visit www.teensbeglobal.com or http://atwarwithstatistics.blogspot.com

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