Stop The Funeral Initiative Sponsors Back To School Stay In School Rally

Aug. 10, 2009 - PRLog -- The STOP the Funeral Initiative Covenant Partners invite parents and students in our Wayne County community to join us for our Third Annual NAACP Back to School Stay in School Rally.  St Mark Church, 700 West Ash Street, will once again host this event in their fellowship hall on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm.  Last years event had more than 300 youth and their parents in attendance.

The NAACP Back to School/Stay in School (BTS/SIS) Program has begun its 23rd year of preparing, inspiring and instructing youth of all ages with the "tools" necessary to graduate high school. Founded in 1984, the program is composed of more than 30 sites located at churches, schools and community centers across the nation.

Bishop Alvin A. Smith, pastor of St Mark Church of Christ anticipates more than 30 Covenant Partner churches and their youth will participate in this year’s event.  Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, NC President of NAACP, encourages all of our Wayne county students to come out for the fun. “Children are not able to learn if they are not in school.  Our goal of reducing crime and violence in our community rests on keeping our kids in school and fully engaged in learning.  We want the children to know that school success is possible and there are those in our community that are willing to help. “

There will be entertainment and a back to school pep rally along with empowering workshops for parents and students:  “Technology Safety; MySpace, Facebook, Texting and more; How to Help Your Student be Successful;  Learning Can be Fun;  I’m Young, but I Can Still Lead; and more.”  There will be prizes, games, refreshments and students will receive school supplies as well. A flyer is attached.

The Stop the Funeral Initiative, is a collaborative effort of Rebuilding Broken Places, CDC, The Goldsboro/Wayne Branch-NAACP, and the Wayne County Faith Community. For more information contact Lauren Grantham, at St. Mark Church,  919 735-3934 or Francine Smith, Program Manager, Rebuilding Broken Places CDC, 919 581-9178 x104

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A collaborative effort of RBPCDC, Goldsboro/Wayne Branch-NAACP, and the faith community united to be a catalyst for stopping drug and gang violence in Wayne County. Begun in April, 2007 after a homicide following a funeral at McIntyre’s Funeral Home