The Young Leaders Program

The Young Leaders Program is the result of a year of listening and building relationships in Chicora/Cherokee. In listening to community leaders and residents the overwhelming consensus was that kids in the neighborhood need more opportunities for safe and positive environments after school. In cooperation with our neighborhood elementary school and St. Matthew Baptist Church, Metanoia began the Young Leaders Program in the Fall of 2003.

In the spring of 2007 the WC English Foundation provided a fourth generous grant for the Young Leaders Program to continue.  We appreciate their partnership and willingness to help our community.  In 2006 the Trident United Way also provided a grant to allow the program to continue expanding.

The program is now operating with 40 students, from the first to the seventh grades, who are identified by our local elementary school. Chicora Elementary selects students who show leadership potential in such areas as academics or social interaction.  We are focused on giving these children the extra boost they need to succeed into the future. The Young Leaders Program offers homework help, exposes children to a wide variety of career possibilities, and gives them a daily meal through the national “Kids Café” program. It also works to nurture students’ faith through a daily "Imani Circle" (Imani means faith in Swahilli) where children sings songs, pray, and say their Young Leaders Pledge (see side bar).

Metanoia believes that one of our most important responsibilities is to develop leaders in the community who can heal our community for themselves. This program not only identifies young leaders, but older ones as well. Parents of children are not charged a financial fee for their children to participate. Instead, they are charged a certain number of “Parent Participation” hours. This boosts the amount of adult participation in important neighborhood institutions like our local Elementary School and the neighborhood council.

The Young Leaders Program meets on the third floor of St. Matthew Baptist Church.  St. Matthew and its pastor, Rev. Dr. Clinton Brantley, have been essential to the success of the program - contributing space, volunteers and many prayers and words of support.

			Young Leaders