Program Instills Love of Reading in Ossining Youth

“Unparalleled times call for unwavering support!” says Kemi Pogue, Founder and Program Facilitator for the Ossining-based nonprofit Home Run Against Drugs.

Her latest effort, Rising Above Boundaries (R.A.B.), entailed a successful Summer Mentoring Program designed to boost young people’s literacy skills and prepare them for the school year to come—all with perfect pandemic etiquette.

Like Home Run Against Drugs, “R.A.B.’s mission is to foster development of positive behavioral, academic and mental health outcomes in youth,” explains Ms. Pogue, who named the program after her late father, whose nickname was Rab.

“Literacy is the foundation for learning across subjects,” she said. “Without strong skills and understanding, students will not have equitable access to higher education institutions, limiting their career options.”

The free program was sponsored by County Legislator Catherine Borgia and Ossining Communities That Care, the collaboration between the community and Ossining town, village and schools to promote healthy, drug free lifestyle choices.

Ms. Pogue recruited 10 Ossining students in grades 5 to 11 from local programs, including Ossining MBK (My Brother’s Keeper), Youth 2 Youth and the Girl Scouts. They participated using a hybrid format, via Zoom or in a socially distanced conference room at Home Run Against Drugs’ offices at 81 Croton Avenue (fittingly, a former school building).

Jerald L. Hoover, an author, sports writer and motivational speaker from Mount Vernon, facilitated the sessions. The students read and discussed his book, “My Friend, My Hero,” and worked in the accompanying Student Success Guide Book, reinforcing English language arts skills. The final session was an in-person (and masked) meet-the-author event, where Mr. Hoover signed the scholars’ books.

“My Friend, My Hero” describes the journey of a basketball standout from Mount Vernon who’s faced with the choice about selling drugs to make quick money to help his sick mother.

“It’s about the ability to make choices and think,” Mr. Hoover explained. “When young men and woman can write and understand what’s going on in this book, they understand what’s going on in their lives…. The scholars were easy to work with and willing to learn.”

He also incorporated his “Vitamin C’s for Success: Confidence, Commitment, Courage, Consistency and Composure.”

The students loved it.

“Some programs you just sit and do the assignment,” said Joash, one of the participants. “We got to interact, and when we got it wrong, Mr. Hoover engaged with us worked with us and talked with us like a regular person, and helped us through our mistakes.”

The program “taught me to stay away from drugs,” said Jadyn, another student. “It’s helping me deal with my friends asking me to use them.”

Daesan said the summer program “kept me on my toes and kept me sharp. It helped me get ready for eight grade.”

The program made Areanna a reader for life.

“This was good practice for seventh grade. I didn’t really like reading books until this summer, and this was fun to read and interact with other people.”

“We partnered with Jerald Hoover because he is an author of books that the students can relate to,” said Ms. Pogue, who has a waiting list for the next R.A.B. mentoring program. “The Student Success Guide Book prepared the students for ELA. The students related the story in the book to their life experience and drug prevention and the importance of health fryiendships and lifestyle. Hoover’s life experience was an asset when relating to the kids. He hit a home run!”