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Parents Reclaiming Our Youth (PROS) program kicks off mid-Nov. In an effort to empower young men, Rev. Anthony Thames, paster of Zion Fountain AME Zion church of Brewton, is creating a mentorship program for those in need.

Along with serving as pastor, Thames has many different roles in the community. Currently, Thames serves as the prevention specialist with the Drug Education Council for Escambia and Conecuh counties, the jail minister for both counties, as well as board members of the J. L. Fisher Center and Quality Assurance with the Conecuh DHR.

From many different angles, Thames has evaluated the need for this type of program.

“I want to start getting to know these young men, so I can empower them,” said Thames.

The goal of the PROS is to sponsor 20 young males to participate in the empowerment course. Anyone is eligible and welcome to join. The target age for the participants is from ages 10 to 14. The motivation behind the program is to prevent drug usage, suicide, and bullying in the surrounding areas. He also wants to empower the students and teach the importance of church.

Through this program, Thames hopes to engage the youth by having formal and informal mentoring to benefit the youth in academics, mental health, and preventing risky behaviors. He also is focused on promoting young men identity that will lead to positive effects, as well as teaching the students to live by biblical principles.

The program will include an array of activities to enhance the experience. This will include field trips, workshops, fact finding trips,  and much more.

Thames extended special thanks to Popeyes, Zion Fountain AME Zion Church, Pizza Hut, Drexell and Honeybee’s Donations Only Restaurant, Escambia County The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, the J. L. Fisher Center, and Principal Cave.

The meet and greet for the event is scheduled for Nov. 12 2019 at 5 p.m. at the J.L. Fisher Center. The community is encouraged to attend. To pre-register for the program contact Thames at antthames@gmail.com. The cut off  for the participants will be 20 young men. The program is free of charge to join.