“No family left behind.”
That's the mission for the Cleaning Up The Streets (CUTS) program Pleasant Valley Baptist Church pastor John Givins and his wife, Erica, is proposing to bring to the Coahoma County Youth Outreach program.
“It’s a mentoring program to help our young folks to have a great future and successful future,” John Givins said during the youth outreach March 14 board meeting.
He said there would be programs for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. In the literature Givins passed out, it said the Cub Scouts would teach ideals, strengthen families, develop interests and skills, have an advancement plan, create fellowship, provide adventure, have fun, promote diversity, teach duty to God and country, provide a year-round program and a positive place. The meetings would be held at 6:30 p.m.
There will be an education program to help students with areas they are struggling in. Tutors would offer assistance in math, science, English and other school subjects from 4 to 7 p.m.
Erica Givins discussed the “Girls in Pearls & Guys in Ties” program that stresses etiquette and personal development training.
“Girls have got to know they are a priceless pearl,” she said. “They have got to know that they’re priceless and not for sale. They’re not to be used. They’re not to be kicked aside as if they didn’t matter.”
While the program is faith-based, Erica Givins said she would be working with kids about the basic skills to enter society.
“Those are the things that have been on my heart for a long time,” Erica Givins said.
Boys and girls from ages 5 to 17 can apply for the “Girls in Pearls & Guys in Ties” program and grade-point averages will be considered when it is determined who is accepted.
CUTS would also have programs targeting economic development, Boys to Men, Second Chance, public education to help children get a GED and prepare for jobs, family nights, single parents, We Care seniors, and healthy eating/living.
“We’re looking to get certified teachers,” said John Givins, adding he is hoping to launch CUTS sometime in the month of April.
The Boys & Girls Club is already partnered with CCYO and both programs are in the Coahoma County Expo Center.
Board member Al Jones suggested seeing if the CUTS and Boys & Girls Club programs could be merged.
John Givins said he is looking for a facility to have the CUTS program where everyone throughout Clarksdale and Coahoma County could be reached. He acknowledged he would have a better chance of reaching everyone in the Expo Center than through his Clarksdale church.
“My team is willing to go wherever we need to go to make it happen,” John Givins said.
