Alice Haydel
February 6, 2019
Rita Landry
February 7, 2019
Education is key to being successful and having a more fulfilled life.
It’s estimated that more than 1.3 million teenagers drop out of high school every year in the U.S., which makes them ineligible for 90 percent of jobs in the country.
National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC) provides even more alarming stats. According to their website, dropoutprevention.org, high school graduates earn $143 more per week than high school dropouts. Dropouts are also more like to receive public assistance. Seventy-five percent of America’s State prison inmates are dropouts.
In major cities across the country, several incentive programs have been implemented try to keep at-risk students in school.
Locally, Houma native Alonzo Coleman and the community youth program he started, UPLIFT INC, recently created such a contest with “Learn 2 Shop”—a contest that not only encourages kids to stay in school but also give their best efforts.
“I’ve been coaching AAU basketball for 10 years, so I see all the inner city kids who struggled with schoolwork,” Coleman said. “One day I just said, ‘Enough of this. Somebody has to do something.’”
Terrebonne Parish students in first through sixth grades with a 3.0 GPA or higher and an A in conduct are eligible to enter “Learn 2 Shop”. A student is selected by a drawing each month by Coleman and his associates. The winner gets a $250 ($500 for December) cash prize or gift card to a store of their choice.
In addition to UPLIFT’s “Learn 2 Shop” contest, Alonzo’s organization also created “Fill Your Dorm Day”.
In May, one high school senior – who plans on attending college in the fall – is selected to receive dorm essentials as well as a $250 grocery-shopping spree.
In 2020, the program will institute a college fund in which individuals will receive a full college scholarship for a four-year university.
Coleman hopes the UPLIFT program can soon be extended to other parishes and eventually be implemented statewide.
“UPLIFT INC is a community education program where I’m just really trying to get the community to come together—all communities in Terrebonne Parish,” Coleman said. “Education is key; with it, you can be whatever you want. They can take whatever they want from you, but they can’t take your knowledge.”
To register a student for “Learn 2 Shop” or “Fill Your Dorm Day”, email Coleman at 985select@gmail.com. Participants in “Learn 2 Shop” must send a report card with conduct and contact info.
In addition to contact info, seniors hoping to get their dorm filled must send a college acceptance letter. •
Who Dat Story by Drew Miller
