Fourth and fifth graders from Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy presented their research and ideas to Knoxville City Council members on what they they think can be done to help homelessness and raise awareness of the community's needs.
"We all thought it was a big problem, so we chose to do homelessness" said fifth grader Angel Arcera.
The students are a part of the ToWeR- Teens Working for Reform Program.
ToWeR is a collaborative after-school program made possible by the Great Schools Partnership, the University of Tennessee, Knox County Schools and Project GRAD. They worked with University of Tennessee Public Health graduate students this school year, examining some of the toughest issues impacting the health and well-being of people living in our community.
Two city council leaders and Knoxville's Homeless Program Coordinator were in attendance for the presentation.
"For children in the fifth grade to be thinking about these issues and wrestling them, just like we do on city council, I think is a great experience," council member Marshall Stair said.
The other ToWeR groups studied Drug Addiction Education and Tobacco Use Prevention.
On Wednesday, April 25 from 3:50-4:30 p.m., Vine Middle Magnet School students will meet with their peers and parents to discuss the dangers of today's drugs, what they can do to combat or reduce the pressure of using drugs and how they can get help if they're already using drugs.
Green Magnet Academy students will discuss their ideas on tobacco prevention on Monday, April 30, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. with state Sen. Richard Briggs, who is also a heart and lung surgeon.