Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 8523 Princeton Pike, will host its Second Chance Program and Health Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. The featured speaker will be Vincent Edwards, formerly with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, according to a news release.
The program is sponsored by the youth department of Mt. Olive. The community is invited to attend and bring young people. There will be door prizes, information on anti-bullying and promotions on being courteous and positive, according to the release.
The purpose of the annual Second Chance Program is to try to save the lives of youth, according to the release.
“Our theme is ‘Bee Nice’ and we encourage everyone to practice being nice to all people,” according to the release. “We are hosting this program in an attempt to save our youth from unwanted trouble that can jeopardize their future. This program will give information and insight on the struggles that are encountered by juveniles. We are also trying to influence our youth to be productive citizens and possibly guide them to people who can assist them to becoming successful citizens.”
The Second Chance program has been promoted by Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside of Mt. Olive church for many years, where they have worked with the youth.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
According to Arwilda Whiteside, the program began in the 1970s at the former Barnes School on Princeton Pike.
“This program has taught a many old and young. This program has been a blessing,” she said, adding the names of many who have gone through the program and been successful, including war heroes, bankers, county employees and others.
This will likely be the last year that the Whitesides will work with the program since they are in their 90s, she said.