Hope for the future

The audience N.C. Sen. Don Davis, D-Greene, addressed Thursday morning didn’t consist of his typical constituents: they raucously cheered almost everything he said, overwhelmed him with hugs and even did the hokey-pokey with him at the end of his appearance.

Davis, who represents the Fifth District in the N.C. Senate that includes portions of Greene, Wayne and Pitt counties, spoke to youngsters at the Green Lamp Head Start Center on Summit Ave. During his hour-plus visit with the children, Davis encouraged them to listen to their parents and teachers.

“I need you to study really hard and work really hard at school,” Davis told the students. “Do all of your homework before you watch TV. … Your early education is going to set the tone for the rest of your life.”

Gesturing towards a bulletin board that featured photos, including one of Dr. Martin Luther King, Davis said the students should use the icon as an example.

“(King) told us to have a dream and set high goals in life,” Davis said to the students. “In order for you to do any of the things you want to do in your lives, you need a good education.”

After reading a book that was selected one of the students, Davis did the hokey-pokey dance with the children and was then inundated with hugs from the youngsters.

Following his appearance, a smiling Davis said he cherished his time with the students.

“The kids are truly where our future is in North Carolina, especially during the tough economic times we are experiencing,” Davis said. “We need to make solid investments and commitments in our children, especially their education.”

The visit was even more special for Davis, who was recently appointed as the chairman of the Senate’s dropout prevention committee.

“Dropout prevention, in my mind, starts in the early ages,” Davis said. “I know we look at the end results in who has dropped out, but the real work starts now at places like Green Lamp. We need to reach out to these children to keep them in school.”

Davis, a former mayor of Snow Hill, is in his first term in the Senate. He said he isn’t ready to announce whether or not he will run for a second term yet. But the 38-year-old Democrat said he is proud of his work in the legislature in his first year.

“I made a commitment to go to Raleigh to be the voice of the people here,” Davis said. “My top challenge has been to get people back to work and to fight through this economy. … I want these children to have the basic foundations necessary to be successful later in life.”

The children weren’t the only ones appreciative of the time spent with Davis on Thursday; one of the teachers, Velma Jackson, also said she was honored by Davis’ appearance. This week, the teachers are highlighting great men to the students.

Today, students will bring the “great men” in their own lives, including their fathers, uncles and grandfathers to class for a reception.

“Those great men who make a big difference to them will be featured (today),” Jackson said. “I want our children to know that if they work hard and stay on task, they can be whatever they want to be. That’s why we wanted Sen. Davis here today; if they stay focused, they can be like him.”

Bryan C. Hanks can be reached at 252-559-1074 or at bhanks@freedomenc.com. Check out Bryan’s blog at bhanks.encblogs.com.