Friday, October 19

Above the Influence Week, a Success

L-r: Lorenzo Harris, Dameka Asbery, Ashanta Randolph, Ja’Shay Baker Brumfield, Greg Martinez, and John Guitierrez, III


[Baton Rouge, La]. Above the Influence (ATI) week came to a close on Wednesday night at the Southern University Ag Center studio. The three-day “Above the Influence” summit was the result of a partnership between Southern University Ag Center and 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, Ltd.

On Monday, October 15, ATI participants from Capital High Academy took part in a closed door “Influence discussion” where the teens engaged in an intimate conversation about their thoughts and perspectives on the topic of influence. On Tuesday, the ATI participants took part in “Tag it” at Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge, La. “Tag it,” an official ATI activity designed to increase teens’ awareness of influence in their environment and how they may prompt them to make decisions. 

On the final day of ATI week, an open panel discussion was held on the influences that affect teenagers and how they play a role in their daily lives. The teenagers gave everyone in attendance a glimpse of their personal lives and how they handle positive and negative influences everyday.

“It’s okay to be above the influence,” said Lorenzo Harris. “It’s okay to talk to your peers because they’re going through the same thing.” The majority of the teenagers in attendance echoed that same sentiment. “What I learned from ATI is that I’m not the only one going through problems,” said Antonio Davis. 

Shaquille Dillon, President of the Collegiate 100 Black Men Southern University Chapter, expressed that there is pressure in college as well. “There’s peer pressure in college too, you have to look at it from a broad standpoint,” he said.

Because of ATI, the participants said they feel more empowered and better equipped to be young leaders in their communities. “After today I’ll be a great leader because of ATI,” said Keandra Thomas. “The experience has changed me and now I can be better.” ATI has given Capital High Academy students an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns, about important issues that are often overlooked by adults according to the teenagers.

Parents and adults in the audience expressed their concerns as well. “Maybe your parents have that same mentality and want the best for you because they know your full potential, “said Jana Snowden, in response to panelist John Brumfield’s comment about how he is protective of his younger sister and tries to steer her away from the negative influences of being in high school.     

ATI gave the participants an arena to express themselves openly and freely, without judgment or punishment, something that many of them have never experienced before.

“Sometimes we need someone to talk to or someone to just listen, said Sundae Brumfield. “Look at it from our point of view.”

The National Above the Influence campaign aims to provide new ways to engage youth in dialogue about both positive and negative influence in their lives and to empower them to make healthy decisions.

Charisma Deberry, research associate and Kelli Palmer, graduate research associate coordinated the ATI activities and wrote the story; photo taken by Palmer.

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Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714

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