Staff Writer
A change is taking place at Edna Junior High one student at a time. Phrases “I love you,” “I'm sorry,” “please forgive me,” and “thank you” are the new buzz words being used on the campus. They are being used to replace hurtful, harmful, or otherwise belittling words that can be used to label, pick on or bully fellow students. Paul Beard, executive director of Lighthouse 2911, and his staff of seven are the creators behind the emotional and impactful "Be The Change" program that the district has implemented. Junior high principal Demetric Wells has seen the change first-hand as he had hand picked a diverse group of kids to attend to interact with one another.
"Lighthouse 2911 has transformed a lot of our students that have gone through the program," Wells said. "They share with the kids their life-changing experiences and the things they've gone through and do a wonderful job of relating to the kids and getting them to open up and understand things about bullying and respect for others’ feelings. I had four students who had been repeat offenders to the office and since going through the program they have not been in my office once."
Serving youth and their families, Lighthouse 2911 was founded six years ago by Beard and his wife. After noticing the steady decline in state funding for juvenile justice, Beard realized that more needed to be done for the youth in the seven county Golden Crescent area. The group started off working primarily with the juvenile justice centers but has branched out to reach as many high school and junior high students in Jackson, DeWitt, Lavaca and Gonzales counties with the Be The Change program hopefully to preempt the number of referrals to juvenile probation..
"We try to help kids see that regardless of what their situation may be at home or otherwise they can still be be positive members of society," said Beard. "If a young person knows that there is somebody in their corner and they are affirmed and lifted up, their attitude changes and they realize that they have a choice to either be a positive member of society or a negative member."
A pastor by trade and and avid collector of lighthouses, the name Lighthouse 2911 comes from the philosophy that like lighthouses that guide ships in the dark we are all supposed to be shining lights in our community to share the light to guide and prepare our youth for the future. Jeremiah 29:11 speaks about thoughts of peace and not evil and a future of hope.
Besides the Be The Change program, Lighthouse 2911 has the Positive Attitude and Life Skills (PALS) and the Parents in Crisis Program (PIC). PALS is a multi-faceted program directed at improving the attitude and life skill of youth. It is a drug-use and violence prevention and educational support program that includes support groups, social skills outings, a summer camp, education services and community service restitution. PIC is directed towards parents of troubled youth by offering support groups, support while their child may be going through the court system, workshops and parent liaisons.
It is evident that Beard and his staff all have a special place in their heart for kids. They work 50 weeks out of the year giving kids hope.The traveling counselors use First United Methodist Church twice a week to work with youth on juvenile probation. The more intense first offender program gets the kids to think what they were thinking when they did wrong, why and how they would correct it. The offenders must sign up to abide by a set of values when they begin the court-ordered program.
According to Steve Minch, juvenile probation officer for Jackson County, the recidivism rate is down on the number of first offenders who reoffend but the number of referrals to his office are up. "I have seen some noticeable improvements on some of the kids that are attending Lighthouse 2911. I am hopeful that the Be The Change program going into the schools will cut down on the number of kids referred to my office," said Minch.
During the Be The Change program students watch videos of a group of classmates from a high school who attend a camp to get to know one another and talk about their life and how they feel they are treated and fit in with the student body. Then in groups of five led by an adult leader, the youth openly talk about their own feelings and the effects of peer-pressure, bullying, suicide, drug-use. Emotions run high as each kid must stand in front of the group and tell what they learned.
"We are dedicated because we want to see a better future for our state and nation," said Beard.
Funding comes from various charitable foundation grants, yet donations and volunteers are always needed. For more information on Lighthouse 2911 or ways to donate or volunteer, go to their Website at www.lighthouse2911.org or email Paul Beard at lighthouse2911@msn.com.
Kendrick Callis
Jackson County Herald-Tribune
361-782-3547news@jacksonconews.com
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