JACKSON CITY COUNCILMAN ERNEST BROOKS ANNOUNCES 2017 JACKSON “DO THE WRITE THING” SCHOOL AMBASSADORS
JACKSON CITY COUNCILMAN ERNEST BROOKS
ANNOUNCES 2017 JACKSON “DO THE WRITE THING” SCHOOL AMBASSADORS
As the Jackson-Madison County School 2016 - 2017 school year comes to a close, middle school students
across the district will be recognized for their participation in the Jackson “Do the Write Thing”
Challenge. 460 middle school students in the Jackson-Madison County School System accepted the
challenge and submitted writings to express how violence impacts their lives. From those submitted, ten
boys and ten girls were selected as School Ambassadors representing Northeast Middle School, North
Parkway Middle School, Parkview Learning Center, and West/Bemis Middle School.
The Challenge gives students an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives in
classroom discussions and in written form by communicating what they think should be done to change
our culture of violence. By encouraging students to make personal commitments to do something about
the problem, the program ultimately seeks to empower them to break the cycles of violence in their
homes, schools and neighborhoods.
Jackson City Councilman, Ernest Brooks II, founded and has chaired this program for ten years. During
his tenure, over 8,000 students from the Jackson Madison County School System have accepted the
Challenge and submitted writings. Corporate sponsor The Jackson Generals, gave each participant two
free tickets and refreshments during “Do the Write Thing” Night at Generals park on Monday, May 15,
2017.
On Saturday, May 20, 2017, the twenty school ambassadors, parents, teachers and administrators will
attend the “Do the Write Thing” Challenge Breakfast at the Doubletree Hotel. There, the girl and boy,
who submitted the most responsive writings, will be announced as the National Ambassadors. These
students, a parent of each, and their teacher will attend the “Do the Write Thing” Challenge National
Recognition week on July 11 - 15, 2017, in Washington, D.C. – all expenses paid.
During National Recognition Week, national ambassadors have the opportunity to present their views on
youth violence to such national leaders as the Secretary of Education, the Attorney General of the United
States, the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and Members of
the Congress. In addition, their writings will be published and placed in the Library of Congress.
Brooks, II, states, “A Coalition of business, educational and governmental leaders has forged a lasting
partnership to prevent youth violence in our community. I applaud the student participants for their
willingness to take a stand against youth violence. They are learning to better voice their life experiences
and create turning points that effect prevention.”
2017
Jackson “DO THE WRITE THING CHALLENGE”
SCHOOL AMBASSADORS
(GIRLS)
Name Grade School Teacher
Ariday Acosta 8 West Bemis Anitra Dancy
Destanee Blackwell 7 North Parkway Montonia Shivers-Taylor
Maya Bridgeman 8 Northeast Kim Dilden
Alana Burks 7 West Bemis Shemon Reaves
Somer Cobbs 8 Northeast Kim Dilden
Destiny Cole 7 West Bemis Shemon Reaves
Charity Ellison 8 West Bemis Anitra Dancy
Bansi Govin 8 Northeast Kim Dilden
Madison Kloekner 6 North Parkway Doris Morton
Makya Mays 8 West Bemis Anitra Dancy
2017
JACKSON “DO THE WRITE THING CHALLENGE”
SCHOOL AMBASSADORS
(BOYS)
Name Grade School Teacher
Cole Britton 7 West Bemis Shemon Reaves
Jah’karious Conley 8 North Parkway Jessica Williams
Joshua Durr, Jr. 7 North Parkway Elvie Patterson
Joshua Herron 6 North Parkway Doris Morton
Landon Johnson 6 West Bemis Michelle Wyatt
Kentavious Manns 8 North Parkway Jessica Williams
Marques Marshall 8 Northeast Kim Dilden
Kelvin Rhyne 7 North Parkway Montonia Shivers-Taylor
Jackson Stansell 7 West Bemis Shemon Reaves
William Steen 8 Northeast Kim Dilden