03/29/2024
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Several Bladen County students were recognized on Thursday afternoon at the Bladen County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council’s annual Youth Recognition Banquet. The banquet was held at the Bladen County Cooperative Extension Office in Elizabethtown.

The youth who were receiving recognition or graduating from programs were given certificates and backpacks to mark the occasion. The Life Skills award was presented to Lee Irvin Hill and the Supportive Services for Students and Parents recognition went to Kenya Rhodes. Those graduating from the Gang Resistance Education & Training (GREAT) program were Alaina Bordeaux, Cameron Lofton, Cory Ballard, Skylar Suggs, Weslyn Hall, and Hannatt Hester.

The speaker for the event was the Rev. Rachel Mitchell, who once worked for Colin Powell and former President Bill Clinton. She told those gathered for the event there will be obstacles and adversities that we will face in life but we can overcome them. She said we have three choices in life when it comes to facing adversity: do nothing, go in reverse, or move forward.

She said, “Failure is okay.” Rev. Mitchell shared the inspiring story of Emmitt Perry Jr. who grew up in New Orleans in an abusive home and attempted suicide several times in his life. Rev. Mitchell said that Perry’s mother would sometimes take him with her to church and he developed a relationship with Jesus.

She said he earned his GED and became passionate about writing. He wrote and produced his first play, “I Know I’ve Been Changed” but the play was a failure. The Rev. Mitchell said Perry did not allow that failure to deter him. Instead, Perry wrote a second play called “The Diary of a Mad Black Woman” which was very successful.

Rev. Mitchell said, “Emmitt’s philosophy in life became, ‘when a seed is planted in the ground all you can do is water it. You can’t control the sunshine, you can’t control the weather, you can’t even control the locals who come to try and destroy it, all you can do is plant that seed and believe in Jesus Christ that it will grow.’”

She reminded those in attendance Emmitt’s first production failed but his second production was successful and he became the second highest payer in Hollywood. Today Emmitt Perry Jr. is known by his stage name of Tyler Perry.

Rev. Mitchell also shared her personal story of growing up in poverty in rural Bladen County. She recounted how she could lay in bed in night and see stars through the ceiling of her home and if she lay on her stomach she could see the chickens underneath the house. She shared how she overcame her upbringing through a scholarship she received to attend Shaw University for one year. At the end of that academic year, Rev. Mitchell said she accepted a job in New York and later moved to Washington, DC before joining the military. Rev. Mitchell said while she was living in Washington she worked for Colin Powell and Bill Clinton.

She emphasized in her closing remarks to the youth in attendance, it is possible to overcome the obstacles you face in life.

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