To Dallas County High School student Maurice Carter, former L.A. Laker A.C. Green fuels most of his inspiration. Carter, also an athlete, is choosing the pathway to abstain from sex until marriage, just like Green did.

The Youth Abstinence Education Conference, sponsored in-part by CHASM Family Resource Center, focused on informing teens about sex-related issues as a result of engaging in the act. The primary message &045;&045; abstinence.

CHASM Director Rev. Carl Rawls selected Selma as the perfect place to hold such an event because of its high teen pregnancy rate. The Alabama Center for Health Statistics estimated in 2000 alone, the latest figures available, that the pregnancy rate for teens in Dallas County was 69 percent. Only Lowndes County had a higher rate at 74 percent.

As Green was put into a &uot;comfort zone&uot; by the crowd of excited youth, he openly extended his gratitude. But his purpose was solely geared toward telling teens about the importance of waiting to have sex until marriage, a 38-year accomplishment for Green who wed just three months ago.

While he emphasized that holding-out until that time may be hard, he admitted that his Christian-based principles, along with inner strength and determination, was the key to his success.

The hardest part of it all &045;&045; peer pressure.

Recalling the professional basketball years, 16 of them to be exact, it was Green’s peers who set out to convert his spiritual obligation and figured that a task of such magnitude would not sustain during his professional career.

He proved them wrong.

At the same time, he gained the respect and admiration of those same people who tried to pursued him to be like them, Green said. Eventually, they too helped him to fight that inner voice and the opportunities that presented themselves time and time again.

The issues surrounding pre-marital sex among teens are exceptionally abundant, Green recognized. Single parenthood, sexually transmitted diseases and the possibility of stunting educational opportunities are a few of those.

He reminded everyone to &uot;dare to dream,&uot; to &uot;challenge yourself&uot; and &uot;let God be the orchestrater.&uot;

For teens already sexually active, Green asked them to quit.

Southside High senior Letti Hasberry thought the &uot;conference was very educational and informative.&uot; She admits that &uot;students of this generation need to learn a message like Green’s.&uot;

Selma Mayor James Perkins presented Green with a gold key to the city for his efforts in trying to change and enlighten our leaders of tomorrow.

Although this was Green’s first trip to Selma, he said that he will return in hopes to get a more vivid picture of the city’s historical influence on society and its impact on the Civil Rights Movement.

Until then, he will continue committing himself to the community. Green is also founder and president of the A.C. Green Youth Foundation whose mission is helping young people build self-esteem, character and to teach moral and ethical principles in order to help them make responsible decisions.