Leaders ‘to make things happen’

By Eloria Newell James, community@laurelleadercall.com

June 16, 2009 11:58 pm

— A group of community leaders are working to take steps toward helping the community to achieve excellence.
Organizers have announced that a men’s symposium will be held in Laurel this summer to bring local residents together “to make things happen.”
The event, which is scheduled for July 31-August 2, will be sponsored by Steps to Excellence ... Positive Sisters.
Sharon E. Harris, a native of Laurel, is the director of the community-based program developed in Dallas, Texas.
Local individuals from all walks of life are expected to gather at the laurel Hotel and Conference Center here in Laurel to discuss “many factors that are adversely affecting our community,” Harris said.
The Steps group last year conducted the area’s first Mentoring The Seed Luncheon titled “Steps to Excellence . . Positive Sisters” at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville.
Harris said the seed luncheon was an outreach to community leaders — now, the symposium for men is a call to action.
She said the theme for the event will be “It’s Your Inheritance, Be Committed to Change.”
Harris said it’s important for all facets of the community to take part in the project.
“This is not going to just be the same old experience,” she said. “We want them to be empowered, transformed, and committed to help lead the community.”
Harris said the weekend event will feature presenters, workshops and entertainment.
“The workshops will focus on many of the factors that are adversely affecting our community,” she said.
Harris said the symposium is a facet of the Steps to Excellence’s mentoring program, which is designed to enhance the lives of young people.
Harris said the event is a “call for action” for residents’ assistance with a youth intervention for at-risk youth in Laurel and the surrounding areas of Jones County.
Harris said the Steps to Excellence ... Positive Sisters Organization is “the catalyst, but we are working to help the children.”
Harris said the goal of the program is to help young people and make a difference in the lives of residents here in Jones County.
Steps to Excellence ... Positive Sisters is a comprehensive community-based mentoring program designed to reach young teen mothers, other teen girls and young teen boys who often find life challenging, difficult and sometimes overwhelming.
Established in 1994, Steps to Excellence ... Positive Sisters has provided opportunities for many teen girls and boys to view life’s situations and circumstances from direct perspectives and assisted these individuals in developing a positive action plan for their future.
Harris said it’s important for participants to realize that they are “making a commitment to leave the world better than we found it.”
She said the symposium should be the beginning of what should be a long-term local effort to make an impact on the lives of the young people in Jones County and its surrounding area.
For more information or to register for the symposium, call Harris at (601) 428-5521 or (214) 374-7443 or e-mail her at happylov@flash.net