Police officers from the Fifth District and volunteers from the community wheezed their way up and down the court recently with students from the Academies at Roxborough High in a game that was part of the Fifth District Mentoring Program’s outreach partnership with the teens.
The “friendly” was organized by retired Fifth District Lt. Eric Ervin whose mentoring program is in its 54th year at the school.
Retired Lt. Eric Ervin has been mentoring students throughout his career in the Germantown and Roxborough sections.
He has partnered with Life University, who focus on professional development and The Citizen Body co-founder John Katrina, who focuses on government and community relations.
Roxborough High’s Nasir Middleton makes a move on Mentor Program Sponsor John Katrina. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
Program volunteer Charles Carlies and Officer Brian Malone grapple with Zaid McDonald for a loose ball. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
Inspector Jarreau Thomas studies a free throw. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
Program volunteer Ben Schlosser jostles with Ryan Terrell for rebounding position. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
Inspector Jarreau Thomas, left, RHS’s Zaid McDonald and volunteer Ben Schlosser await a foul shot. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
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Roxborough High’s Nasir Middleton makes a move on Mentor Program Sponsor John Katrina. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
The program currently tracks 15 juniors and seniors through 12 weeks of critical and strategic thinking, professional communication and preparation, and emotional intelligence.
By working on a foundation of growth, innovation, and mutual trust, the police officers, along with members of our local businesses and community, invest their time andpersonal resources to help boost each child’s potential for success in all phases of their lives.
The length of the program runs over the course of a few months during the school year.
Roxborough High’s George Burgess drops in a free throw. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
Roxborough High’s Nasir Middleton looks to take on Officer Ray Heim. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
Mentor Director Eric Ervin gets set to jump it up with Zaid McDonald and volunteer Jackson Treski. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
Jameer Bellinger leads a Roxborough High fast break. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
Community Relations Officer Damian Caggiano checks out the defense as he moves up court. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
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Roxborough High’s George Burgess drops in a free throw. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
The mentors meet with the students about once a week while trying to establish a cohesive relationship while hopefully laying the groundwork to discuss more complex and sensitive topics down the road.
Once a rapport is established, the mentors can then channel their energies into listening to the students’ needs and allowing their input to create a program that will best support them.
Of course, for the students to buy into this, they need to see their mentors as real flesh-and-blood human beings who care for their well-being and will go the extra mile forthem.
The mentors also get to see the individual struggles and hardships of their counterparts who have shown their willingness to work hard to attain their place in the world.
And when the serious work is done, the mentors and mentees meet for a friendly sporting contest in Roxborough’s dazzling, refurbished gymnasium.
This time it was a return to full court basketball, in which the junior and senior mentees bested the police and mentors 47 to 42 (no shocker there).
Program volunteer Jackson Treski gets double teamed by Zaid McDonald and Jameer Bellinger. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
Lt. Ervin took on the role of referee (totally unbiased) and watched his cohorts huff and puff their way up and down the court, trying to keep pace with the fleet-footed youth.
However, beyond the bruised egos of the mentors, the atmosphere remained congenial and good-natured as the mentors were reminded of their not too distant glory days.
The robust teens, in the prime of their lives, got to save face and retain bragging rights for another year.
Imagine the heartbreak if they had lost to a bunch of old geezers!
Roxborough High students in the Mentor Program gave the men in blue a run for their money. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
The mentors are grateful to Principle Kristen Smalley and the RHS staff, the Fifth Police District, Jax Cusack, Executive Director of the Roxborough Development Corporation, and the many businesses that have donated lunches each week for the program including: Wawa, Toni Roni’s, Santucci’s, and Sunshine Sandwich Shop.