These Pinkston programs improve high school attendance, grades and even crime rates

By Michaela Rush Originally appeared in Dallas Free Press On a typical day at L.G. Pinkston High School, as students file into classrooms, some make their way to a tucked-in corner room on the building’s second floor. Here, a different type of learning happens, in a more relaxed environment with comfortable chairs and soft lighting. This space is home to Pinkston’s Becoming a Man (BAM) and Working on Womanhood (WOW) groups. At any given time during the school day, students can be found participating in these& Youth Guidance& weekly group sessions. They can also drop in for a one-on-one talk, or use the space to play games, color, and just take a break. Students relax and enjoy snacks in the BAM/WOW space. Sophomore Christian Williams joined the program earlier this year. He says BAM connected him with a male mentor as he’s struggled with his relationship with his dad. The program, he says, allowed him to deepen respect for himself and others. He cautions that any students who join should prepare themselves for emotional conversations. “Prepare yourself to cry once or twice, because Mr. Travis and Ms. Jenae give lessons like no one’s business, because you’ll realize that their story...