by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
The Public Defender’s Office is looking for a few good men and women.
Not to become attorneys, but to volunteer for the Success Through Knowledge tutoring program at the Duval Regional Detention Center.
Conceived by Blake Johnson, vice president of the Stake Holder’s Board, he introduced the idea to the Public Defender’s Office two years ago. Once the program was approved, it was presented to the detention center.
“We [the board] wanted to do what we could,” said Stephanie Yazgi, assistant director of the program. “They [incarcerated children] are a forgotten minority. They are children but are caught up in the system so they’re thought of first as criminals. We want to help with their education and let them know that there are people on the outside that care about them.”
Volunteers filed in for the first round of fingerprinting and background screening, a requirement for anyone entering the secure facility, last week. Approximately two dozen have volunteered so far. Tutors are matched with juveniles based on the strengths of the volunteer, personality and the needs of the student.
“One of the volunteers is a teacher and offered to give tutorials on how to teach children,” said Yazgi.
To gauge the commitment level of the volunteers, they are asked to commit for either three, six or 12 month periods. The center asks for an hour or two each week from the tutors to review the coursework of their assigned student. Specific assignments have not been made yet.
Recruiting is ongoing at the University of North Florida, Florida Coastal School of Law, volunteer fairs and anywhere else people are willing to listen.
“We prefer that they are in college or have a college education to reinforce the importance of education, but as long as they’re able, that’s all we require,”said Yazgi.
Only those children who want to participate take part. The program is optional.
The catalyst for the program was a Black History Month celebration last month at the detention center where the girls formed a choir and the boys acted out a play. The creative outlet was well-received.
“It was such a positive thing that we’re trying to keep the momentum going,” said Yazgi.
Qualitative feedback from both the students and the teachers will be used to assess the progress and the effectiveness of the volunteer-run program.
In tandem with the tutoring program, the Stake Holders are recruiting local professionals to address the children about topics such as education, careers and self-esteem.
Yazgi’s aunt, attorney Tonia Yazgi, has committed to speaking to the group.
“I’m not sure what is in place [as far as other similar programs] regarding this population but I know there’s not another in the same context,” said Stephanie Yazgi.