Students and role models gathered in Dallas to try to elevate lives. Powered by Coca Cola, mentoring program Dallas Elevators is expanding to include 2 selected DISD schools.
“We’re going to help you come up with positive influential people and positive influential programs like this program so you guys have everything you need in life,” said 97.9 The Beat radio DJ Rock T while on stage in the auditorium at Pinkston High School.
L.G. Pinkston High is one of those schools and will launch the program.
“If we can put our arms around these kids we can give them the right models,” said Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. “If we can give them some passion and tell them the importance of staying in school so they understand that.”
Pat Smith, philanthropist and wife of NFL great Emmitt Smith is one of the newest role models to join Dallas Elevators.
“Because of people that poured back into my life I was able to achieve the things that are possible today, “ said philanthropist Pat Smith.
Principal Norma Villegas says Pinkston High School has faced many challenges.
“For academics we are academically acceptable but because of completion rate and drop out rate we fall into improvement again this year, “ said principal Norma Villegas.
However she hopes that the Dallas Elevators program will help students not to give up, but to stay in school. She selected student Charlie Johnson Jr. along with two other students to lead the school in this mission.
“Charlie is definitely a positive role model in the building,” said Villegas. “The kids look up to him and they really see him as a role model.”
Johnson is the first person in his family with plans to attend college.
“I plan to graduate mostly with honors,” said student Charlie Johnson Jr. “I plan to go to UTA or UNT to play baseball. Today it showed everybody that we have to come together as a school and as a family and just to stay focused to achieve our goal.”
With hopes to expand to even more schools in the future the role models of Dallas Elevators are making sure students here reach the top of their potential.
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