By April Garon

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Five young men are spending the summer learning the meaning of hard work and the importance of education in the Urban Youth Corps program.

The program provides young men between the ages of 16 to 25 an opportunity to work for the public works office doing landscaping and other beautification projects for the City of Natchez.

Kejuan McClain, Raheem Thomas, Braxton Reynolds, Charles Marsaw and Jadarrius Williams spent Friday morning updating Duncan Park’s walking trail. They have also worked at Memorial Park clearing leaves.

They may not be in a classroom setting, but the interns said they are learning skills they can bring with them in the future, such as properly using a shovel and using heavy equipment.

“I’ve learned to figure things out and problem solve,” Marsaw said. “I can use what I’ve learned around the house and in my garden.”

Marsaw is an Alcorn State University mechanical engineering student.

“Learning to use a back-hoe was helpful,” Reynolds said. The high school student aims to one day have a landscaping business.

Thomas, who plans to study welding at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, said it was good hands-on experience for the future.

But skills aren’t the only thing the participants are gaining this summer.  The Urban Youth Corps experience is influencing their perspective on their futures.

“This experience motivates me to get my degree and get a good job,” McClain said.

He is studying business at Hinds Community College and said he wants to someday be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

“It’s important to have a taste of hard work when you are young,” Marsaw said.

Williams said he believed experiencing different lines of work at a young age was better than settling for a job and find you don’t like it later. The recent Natchez High School graduate wants to go into physical education.

The Urban Youth Corps program continues through Aug. 2.  The city is partnering with Alcorn State University, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Mississippi State University Extension Service, American Medical Response and Britton and Koontz Bank. The partners will provide participants with basic life skills training.

The young men said they liked the program because of the hands-on work, being in the fresh air and working with one another. McClain said they worked well as a team, and the others agreed.

“It’s nice being outside when there’s a cool breeze. These are good guys,” Williams said.