Faith in Action: Young Ladies of Distinction
Associated Press
2008-02-25 10:44:23.0
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An 85 year old widow who wants to make a difference… She mentors young girls three days a week using what she says God blessed her with in hopes of imparting some knowledge to help those lead lives of distinction.
“God blessed me with a little bit of wisdom and a little bit of knowledge.”
Tommie Mitchell knows where her help comes from. The longtime member of St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church spends time learning how to apply God's word to her life.
“Church's are responsible. Christian people are responsible.”
The responsibility she feels for young people stems from a loss she suffered years ago when her son was killed after a dispute that began when he was in high school, and came to a deadly head a few short years later.
"After my son got killed I wanted to know why they are killing each other."
For 27 years she volunteered at a youth detention center trying to understand.
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"I followed that just to see what was going on with them and I still haven't found out."
What she has found out is that young people need to know someone cares about them. Ms. Mitchell shows that through what she calls “grandmama talk.” It's how she came up with the Young Ladies of Distinction.
"My biggest thing is telling them you have to be obedient," said Mitchell.
A program in four Birmingham City Schools with volunteer mentors like Joan Black and Verna Page helping middle school girls with a curriculum that promotes character self esteem, and teaches etiquette. And for the young impressionable minds in the program, it's working.
“I used to say I don't see where I’m doing anything and a preacher told me you ain't supposed to see what your are doing if you do you'll stop."
But four years later it's clear to those who help Tommie Mitchell with this program that she is making a difference.
"The ones we led before they are so different, they seem to be so different," said Joan Black.
"Because people are taking time out," said Verna Page.
As for why this 85 year old mentor does what she does for the youth. It's a very practical way of putting her faith in action.
Young Ladies of Distinction is a counterpart to a program for middle school boys called Officers and Gentlemen's Academy.
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