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Jesse Owens: 15 Years in Program
Currently an employee at USPS How has being a part of Bankhead Boys Association helped you? The Bankhead Boys Association has played a major role in my life. It has taught me how to be a great leader, how to use my natural surroundings for tools for survival, self-respect and most of all how to work as a team.
What is the most important thing you learned while you were at a part of the Bankhead Boys Association? I would say the most important thing I learned was each one teach one. Teach others what I have learned, and to help them to be better than I was and to be successful.
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What's your favorite memory during your time? My favorite memory was definitely going on field trips. Growing up in the system, you can only go as far as someone was willing to take you. To be able to get out and to enjoy life knowing that it's more to life outside the four walls. I used to think it was boundaries until I realize the boundaries were never there it’s the system that makes us think it is one.
Why is Bankhead Boys Association important to current youth in Atlanta? I think it’s important because the younger kids need it. They need that positive male and female role model, that guidance and that little extra push away from home. It so many things that school didn't teach us that I learned through BBA. Not only that it's a great way to keep the younger men safe and out of trouble. It's a great networking tool to meet many people through sponsors, summer camp trips, events and meetings. I can't say it enough that without this program I wouldn't be who I am today. I can't say it will save every young man future, but it will save more than half.
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Juwan Jones: 16 years in program
Currently an employee at Trulite Glass & Aluminum How has being a part of Bankhead Boys Association helped you? Being part of the Bankhead Boys Association the last 16 years has helped me tremendously. I was a troubled child growing up, but once I joined this association, I became a better individual. My attitude changed, school became easier and most importantly, I started to understand life and was able to make use of the lessons I learned. Jerry Greason, the purchasing manager, was my tutor.
What is the most important thing you learned while you were at a part of the Bankhead Boys Association? The most important thing I learned in the association was how to become a leader, a team player, but overall I learned what it takes to become a man. That was a goal not only for me, but for my family as well.
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What's your favorite memory during your time? My favorite memory was my first time camping. it was amazing.
Why is Bankhead Boys Association important to current youth in Atlanta? The association is important to the current youth because, for a lot of them this is their way out.
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De'Markius Lamar: 7 years in program
Currently employed as a 6th Grade Math Teacher at Sutton Middle School Sixth Grade Campus How has being a part of Bankhead Boys Association helped you? I loved it. It gave me structure. It gave me something to do with my time, instead of just being idle at home. I still use a lot of the stuff that I learned during my time with BBA today.
What is the most important thing you learned while you were at a part of the Bankhead Boys Association? The Boy Scout’s Law was the most important thing that I learned, while being a part of the Bankhead Boys Association. If I operate using the law, I don’t feel bad about anything that happens.
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What's your favorite memory during your time? Going to Daytona Beach during Spring Break. We would always stay at a house that had an orange grove, and we would pick oranges. Every time we went, it was also cheer season, so there would be a lot of cheerleaders in town also.
Why is Bankhead Boys Association important to current youth in Atlanta? Youth today don’t have any programs. I think that if we didn’t have Bankhead Boys Association, we would be doing different things. They need the same opportunity that we had.