Coming at it from all angles Some of the programs close to McClellan’s heart are the Peace Maker project, the G.E.M.S program for girls and the M.A.T.C.H. program for boys.The Peace Maker project is a school-based intervention program which provides educational services eight hours a day, one day a week at three local middle schools.There is specific curriculum that is focused on violence prevention and health promotion. Its goal is to reduce aggressive behavior among targeted youth. The Girls Empowering and Motivating Success (G.E.M.S.) program is for girls, ages 12-17 years old, and it meets each Wednesday after school. Some of the goals of the program are to teach resiliency, self-control and positive self-image. McClellan says, “We do all things to motivate and empower girls.”They instill hope for the future and educate them about things like avoiding teen pregnancy, juvenile crime, school failure and substance abuse. The Male Academy for Traditional Conduct and Honor (M.A.T.C.H.) program is for boys and they not only learn about social coping skills and prevention strategies, but also get to go on fun adventures like camping outdoors and other athletic activities. The program additionally focuses on moral values, strong work ethic and academic improvement. McClellan’s greatest victory is in seeing both boys and girls be successful in their lives.
Hope for the future While the current programs are having great success, McClellan says, “I hope the prevention programs can continue to grow.” There are currently lots of volunteers who help with the projects, and two other staff people who assist McClellan, but with the exceptional need in the community, much more work is on the horizon. McClellan not only teaches the kids, but she has learned some things too. She says, “Every kid is different. You can’t treat kids all the same, you just have to know how to deal with them as an individual.”
“Every kid is different. You can’t treat kids all the same, you just have to know how to deal with them as an individual.” -Joselyn “Angel”McClellan
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