Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510270009
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA P. SMITH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Children are easier to target. With adults, there is always a feeling of apprehension, and children are more accepting," said Johnson-Alleyne, a prevention specialist with Blue Ridge Community Services.
Johnson-Alleyne, a former elementary school teacher, recently helped organize a fall festival at the apartment complex to celebrate the successes of her project and encourage residents to continue various activities.
Johnson-Alleyne worked at the complex under a federal grant that F&W Management Corp. had obtained to develop services to help residents fight against drug and alcohol abuse.
Michelle Wilburn, resident manager of the complex, said F&W applied for the grant after she witnessed some vandalism, violence and drug activity in the complex.
In addition to activities for youngsters, Johnson-Alleyne's project eventually included a GED class and activities for senior citizens.
As a teacher, Johnson-Alleyne said, she saw that "some of the children had bad developmental, emotional and family problems'' that public schools couldn't deal with. "I wanted to make a difference, and the school system only allows you to do so much for them."
For the children, ages 4 to 12, she had a Fun Time program to teach them "about peer pressure, how to say no and what to say yes to. The kids have been shown alternatives to the negative," Johnson-Alleyne said.
The children used role-playing to solve the worst case scenarios of drug- and alcohol-related problems. They also made crafts and posters and had storytelling sessions.
During the summer, Johnson-Alleyne held camps for 13- to 18-year-olds. The teens swam, bowled, skated and canoed. They also worked on crafts such as tie-dyeing and stamp art.
"The summer camp probably made a difference to teens who otherwise wouldn't have anything to do," she said. "If you don't give kids something positive to do with their time, they'll find something negative to do."
"Children just need supervision," Johnson-Alleyne said.
After adults began seeing and hearing what the children were doing, they began getting involved in programs available for them: senior citizen walking clubs and breakfasts, ceramics classes and GED classes.
The GED class is the only adult program operating because the $65,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development was scheduled to end in September, and there was no staff to work with the programs. The grant has been extended, however.
Rachel Ann Rosser, a 48-year-old mother of five and grandmother of six, was in the process of signing up for a GED class elsewhere when she saw a flier for the free Ferncliff class.
Rosser, who hopes to be a role model by getting her GED certificate, said she "wishes that all young people will learn what they're missing when they drop out of high school. You can't do anything unless you have a high school diploma. You even need one to flip burgers."
Two residents who recently earned certificates in the class plan to continue their education. Tawayla Hicks plans to attend a Roanoke hair design school to study cosmetology, and Leslie Taylor plans to go to Virginia Western Community College.
Some residents said there has been a noticeable difference in the community since the prevention programs were started.
"Before Carleen came to Ferncliff, the people had no incentive or inspiration to do anything for themselves. Carleen has made a difference; people are now beginning to take pride in their community. I am now proud to live in Ferncliff," Rosser said.
Wilburn said she also sees a difference in the community since the programs have started. "The children don't fight as much; they now get along with each other. And, we have gotten rid of some of the drug people," she said.
Jeanne Marie Sawtelle, the GED teacher, describes Johnson-Alleyne as a fountain that bubbles with enthusiasm.
"Carleen has a personal touch and provides hands-on help" to the people she comes in contact with, Sawtelle said.
Ferncliff's recent festival, said Johnson-Alleyne, resulted in good publicity. Several of the organizations that participated want to bring programs to Ferncliff, a Northwest Roanoke complex with 499 people.
And, although the HUD grant will expire in March, Johnson-Alleyne is optimistic that some of her work will continue. She and her assistant, Allison Hanwit, are starting a tenants' council to carry on the activities.
Johnson-Alleyne has volunteered to come back as a consultant.
by CNB