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Parent Choices Radio Show
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Posted:
Mar 15, 2012
12:30
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Woodbury Reports, Inc.
Bonners Ferry, ID
Educating Young Minds
Accessing Struggling Teens
Contact:
Lon Woodbury, MA, CEP, IECA
208-267-5550
lon@woodbury.com
www.strugglingteens.com
Featuring:
Angeles Echols-Brown
Founder/Executive Director
Educating Young Minds
Los Angeles, CA
213-487-2310
aechols@educatingyoungminds.org
www.educatingyoungminds.org
March 12, 2012
Today's guest on Parent Choices for Struggling Teens, hosted by Lon Woodbury, is no stranger to the plight of struggling teens in the inner city of Los Angeles, where academic failures are at an all-time high. Angeles Echols-Brown, the founder and Executive Director of Educating Young Minds (EYM) began this private, tutoring service back in 1987, in a one room apartment, which has now grown into a 12,000 sq. ft. state of the art computer lab center that offers educational services and programs to students grades K thru 12.
In addressing the needs of inner city kids, Angeles believes the three main needs include attention, consistency and structure…and always, love. "It is the parents' responsibility to stay on top of their kids, to know who they are hanging out with, checking their Facebook page and keeping them out of gangs."
Angeles explained that EYM informs parents of importance of their participation in the programs from the beginning; that they will be involved and they need to be honest. Since they work as a family unit, they are consistent with the training, intellect, grace and humility, and every direction the children turn they get the same message and empowerment.
"Give them consistent love and discipline," recommended Angeles, "because it is hard to battle love!"
In addressing the issue of bullying and gangs, Angeles firmly believes students must be held accountable, by both parents and the schools they attend. "It has been proven statistically that students who bully are not doing well in school, so they get the attention they need by bullying." For those who join gangs, they do so because gangs are so powerful.
"The students are looking for love and attention they so deeply need from their peers." Angeles explains. "There isn't just one solution; it is the whole accountability factor. There is a high rate of students dropping out, wanting the quick dollar through gang related activities."
A goal at EYM is to get the students to understand that the feeling they get from this behavior will not last. It will not sustain them and it will not be something they can later hold their heads up high and be proud of.
In asking how EYM gets their students, Angeles was quick to say that it is 100 percent word of mouth, through parents, teachers, students and referrals. "I am blessed, we have great parents and students," she proudly stated. "and six or seven graduates of EYM who went on to Berkley, Columbia and Cal Tech now work here. They know how to work with these teens and are excited about helping them."
EYM is a nonprofit and is funded through individuals and foundations and once a year they hold an annual fundraiser. As Angeles was quick to point out "I could not have done this without them!"
In closing, Angeles advised, "It is better to walk with grace and structure than a big stick, to be gentle and kind with strength and to empower with the children. Parents, do not dominate. Instead, reach out to a child because it is a chain reaction.
To listen to the full interview go to: Educating Young Minds/Accessing Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio.
Also available in Podcast 
Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent choices for Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio Mondays at 12:00pm, Pacific Time, Channel One.
Ms. Angeles Echols-Brown, a graduate of Cornell University, founded Educating Young Minds 25 years ago. This private tutoring service offers several educational programs and services to over 300 Los Angeles, CA inner city students, with a state of the art computer lab center and over 23 multi-cultural teachers and volunteers
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