Georgia Highlands College and the 100 Black Men of Rome have partnered on a program called the Young 100 to mentor young men at risk of dropping out of school before their high-school graduations.

The Rome Police Department and the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority will also assist in the Young 100 program.

Members of the 100 Black Men and GHC faculty and staff lead the young men on field trips, such as camping at the Lock & Dam Park, and visiting the King Center in Atlanta and the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum. The mentors also keep up with the boys at school, touching base with teachers, monitoring grades and offering help and support.

“Our primary mission is to do what we can to encourage these students to stay in school by building their self-esteem, giving them new academic experiences and including them in a group of adults and peers who care about what happens to them,” said Jon Hershey, GHC professor of English. “If we are successful to some degree in any of these areas, then the community will benefit. I also think the partnerships we are creating will help strengthen the community.”

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