PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT

Phillip M. Taylor, PMTSD, 843-542-2740
Todd Post, NCPC, 202-261-4138

By HEATHER STONER
Staff Writer

A group of Colleton kids are helping to bring a spotlight on the county as
they work to help other young people through the trials of being a teenager. Community Works and Youth Outreach for Victim Assistance (YOVA) are two programs organized by Phillip Martin Taylor, director of the local Phillip Martin Taylor’s School of Discipline.

Groups of middle and high school girls and boys are flourishing in these volunteer groups, learning to use songs, dances and lots of courage to help prevent teen crimes.
Last week, the two groups were videotaped by the S.C. Bar, an umbrella association for all Palmetto State law-related youth programs. The bar chose to tape Colleton groups to feature them in teen crime prevention commercials to be broadcast across the state.

In Community Works, a federally funded program associated with National Crime Prevention Council, about 16 local teenagers are focusing on a curriculum that teaches other teens how to avoid being a victim of date rape, bullying and violence.They do this outreach through training, guest speakers and by creating community action projects that target areas they want to improve, Taylor said. Right now, this group is working on skits, teaching young students how to avoid being a victim and how to stop from becoming a bully, to perform at Colleton elementary schools. “I think Colleton County’s program is fantastic. This group of young people are so energetic. They’re going to make a difference in their community,” said Josella Alexander, YOVA program manager for the National Crime Prevention Council.

Participating teens agree, many of them saying their main desire for being in the program is to improve lifestyles in their rural communities. “We’re getting together to help each other keep teens from smoking and drinking and doing illegal stuff. Most of us young kids are on the streets and aren’t advancing,” said 15-year-old LaQuinta Magwood. LaQuinta and her twin sister, LaQuetta, are both Colleton County High students and are active in the Community Works program. “I’m trying to be a good role model for my daughter. I’m a teenage mom,” said Dimia Magwood, a 17-year-old CCHS student. She is one of two participating YOVA teens who became nationally certified in the program last year. Magwood and Jaquawna Terry, 15, traveled to Dallas, Texas for two days of training. The training brought together YOVA representatives from Alaska, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oklahoma and South Carolina. “It’s not as hard as it seems to be, getting involved in the community,” Dimia Magwood said.
And this type of enthusiasm lets Martin know these programs work. “We’re providing a great opportunity here for these kids. And, they’re proof it works,” he said.Meanwhile, a second group of about 15 teens are also helping Colleton County get national attention.Colleton is only one of 20 sites in the country to receive grant funding for the YOVA program, which helps train young kids to be better leaders and better role models in their communities.
“Many teens don’t realize what different crimes are, like intimidation and
larceny. And, they don’t even know if these crimes are even being committed
against them,” Alexander said. “We want them to know how to find help and
how to help others.
“This group of (Colleton) kids is doing that,” she said.