Program promotes education and progress

Published 7:39 pm Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Selma City School System is looking for some help.

The system’s Safe and Drug Free Schools program is collaborating with the Selma Police Department, Dallas County Department of Human Resources, SABRA Sanctuary, Working Matters Family Guidance Center, Taylor Internal Medicine, the District Attorney’s office and Cahaba Mental Heath to host the “Back to School Bash” and needs donations.

The event will be workshops and summits which address some of the bigger issues that the citizens of Selma face.
“We want to use these summits to inform student, parents and the community on the big issues of Selma,” Selma City School worker Joslyn Reddick said. “We want to inform them on things like gangs, bullying and cyber bullying, alcohol and drugs. We will talk about laws and the consequences of not following those laws.”

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Laws, legislation, mentoring, and other topics will also be discussed during the event.

The need for supplies comes from the planned give-a-way and should be dropped off at the Selma Police Department.

“We need paper, books and all of the basic school supplies,” Selma Police Sgt. Natasha Rozzell said. “As a partner with the school and with the Safe and Drug Free Schools program, (the police department) will be on hand to distribute all of the donated supplies.”

It’s just not a free give-away according to Reddick.  Parents and students must participate in at least two of the workshop sessions in order to qualify for the giveaway.

“We don’t want them just to show up and get something,” Reddick said. “We want to make sure they learn something while they are here. The entire purpose of this drive is to teach kids and parents of the community so some progress can be made.”