Atlanta Falcons: Babineaux working with the youth

Nov. 13, 2011 - Atlanta: ---WINNING KICK --- Dejected Atlanta Falcons Jonathan Babineaux, left, and John Abraham, right, walk of the field after the winning field goal kick by New Orleans Saints John Kasay for a 26-23 Saints victory in overtime at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

So far, 18 of 26 TEAM NFL reps and more than 50 high-performing students from challenged schools will attend the event for a couple days of learning, inspiration, ideation and advocacy.

The core groups will participate in full group learning sessions followed by breakout discussion sessions designed to give participants the opportunity to strategize and share ideas for engaging more people in this work.

As part of United Way’s national Day of Action, the core groups will visit three of their representatives on Capitol Hill to call attention to the need for more volunteer readers, tutors and mentors.

Also, all participants will gather on the steps of Capitol Hill for “The Big Tweet.”

In April, Oshay Columbus, a senior at Therrell High School, was selected to receive the Jonathan Babineaux Award for Improved Attendance.

Columbus’ was coming late to school almost every day, missing valuable class time and getting behind in classes. Columbus’ tardiness stemmed from her increased responsibilities at home as she stepped in to help her mother and care for her younger siblings. Her mother had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

With the support of her graduation coach Adrian Malone who discovered why Oshay was always late to school, Oshay’s attendance and grades improved. She is now preparing to go to college.

Communities In School of Atlanta has chosen to name the award in NFL star Jonathan Babineaux’s name for his volunteer work to help end truancy in the Atlanta Public Schools.

Babineaux had implemented a “Stop Truancy” school tour two years ago to raise awareness of the truancy problem in schools and help to improve student attendance.

“I just try to keep my head down and do the best that I can as far as educating the youth in many ways and empowering them and making sure they stay on the right path,” Babineaux said after OTAs on Wednesday. “Even if I just change one of them, I’m doing something positive for the community. I want to continue to be a positive mentor in the community and make sure the youth of our community is going about life in a positive way.”

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–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

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