Nov 22, 2009 11:47 pm US/Eastern
Students Work To Keep Kids Off The Streets
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
-
-
Some Baltimore college students are concerned about maintaining a positive image in the community.
CBS
Some Baltimore college students are concerned about maintaining a positive image in the community.
Jessica Kartalija reports Morgan State students are working to keep kids off the streets.
In Baltimore City, college kids are on a mission.
"Young adults now today don't have a positive image in Baltimore and in the nation, so I want to incorporate entertainment and education into one event," said Ian Yearwood, a junior at Morgan State University.
Yearwood and fellow students at Morgan State created Swagg Nation, a daylong event packed with entertainment and activities to get Baltimore teens off the streets.
"I really think that a lot of young adults have a bad reputation because they don't have an outlet to go to. They don't have a place to actually go to and be positive and keep them out of trouble in the city," said senior Lashawn Sharp.
Fancy footwork and live music promote local talent.
"The performances are basically to give the young Baltimore artists a chance to be seen and get their music out there," said Rashida Martin.
In addition to the main event Sunday, several seminars are also being held to teach students how to be proactive.
"We are very excited to be partnering with Swagg Nation to make sure that young people are empowered, have the necessary skills and tools to get more involved in their communities," said Farajii Muhammad, New Light Leadership Coalition.
Muhammad says the courses teach kids to be the change.
"Take home with them that they can do a lot more than what they see on TV, to just seek the entertainment world and seek the business world also," Yearwood said.
Baltimore Schools and local businesses are also on board and the students are getting the message.
"We might as well just start doing this instead of doing this and being on the streets and selling drugs and getting locked up," said Raquon Gay.
This is the second event organized by Swagg Nation.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Shocking Celebrity Suicides
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments