Thursday, March 31, 2011

SCAP Brings Non-Military Options to Stephenson High






Stephenson High school invited Student Career Alternatives Program to their first spring career fair, which took place today. This marked our second visit to the Stone Mountain high school. One striking thing that we again noticed today that the student body is over 99% African American, which seems to further confirm the fact that Atlanta Metro school have become resegregated over the past 20 years.

We were all impressed with the counseling staffs dedication to the students and their post high school careers. So many high school counselors cave into parents request to hold career fairs after school instead of during school. The fairs that take place during school hours are so much more accessible to students.

We had hundreds of students come talk to us through the course of the fair. Students explored ways to serve their country, travel the world, find adventure, get money for college, develop artistic skills, and other job skills training without out having to join the military.

We also provided students that were considering military service with our new DVD, "Before You Enlist" which breaks down the realities of the enlistment contract and interviews young people coming back from Iraq/Afghanistan. We weren't the only folks tabling at today's career fair. In addition to dozens of colleges and a cosmetology school, there was two tables staffed by Army recruiters.

We're excited at the prospect of building a relationship with Stephenson high staff. There's already talk of a summer program collaboration with SCAP!


Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committee

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