‘One voice can change a life,’ Grayson tells youths

young African-American males.

“We know there’s a need to help kids who potentially can fall through the cracks,” said Rev. Grayson, who became pastor at Wesley Center AME Zion Church 22 years ago and founded Center that CARES soon afterward. “I can see growth, I can see potential, I see greatness. We just need to push it, enhance it, shape it, encourage it.”

During the presentations at a recent Heinz Youth Voices session, Rev. Grayson prodded the students to think on their feet. One student expected to lay out his presentation on a podium, which turned out not to be in the room. The student had to begin without it.

“Sometimes you may have a podium, sometimes you may not,” he said. “You’ve got to be ready.”

In the second half of the class, Rev. Grayson read a series of disturbing news headlines and urged students to react to them.

In one, a sports coach was accused of sexting underage students. In another, a restaurant waiter demanded that African-American teens paybefore being served.

“How does that make you feel?” he asks.

Angry, many said, but they also wouldn’t want to react rashly in such a situation.

“Youhave to really put your emotions aside,” one said. “You have to be mature when you talk about these things. You’ve got to think about the real world. What can I do that will help me, what can I do that willharm me?”

Rev. Grayson told them: “This is some of the injustice and some of the reality that goes on every day.” He noted that young people are making their voices heard in rallies against gun violence.

And, he reminded them, they are soon turning 18. “Right now, young people can vote with your feet. But one day you can vote as well at the polls if you dislike a candidate for being racist or not looking out for the poor.”