Unfortunately, Rayburn Reed knows firsthand about the dangers of alcohol and the effects of driving under the influence. Reed, whose 29-year-old son, Martin, was killed by a drunk driver, shares this knowledge often as a volunteer teacher with Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP).
Reed said he leads seminars on this topic and shares his personal experience to increase awareness among students.
“Being involved with ALCAP gives me the greatest sense of satisfaction,” Reed said. “I present truth and facts and let people make their own decision.”
ALCAP, a nonprofit group that started in 1937, strives to promote positive values through education and working with legislation. Associate Director Bill Day, who heads up the education side of ALCAP, said the organization is an extension of concerned citizens and churches.
“We’re concerned with moral issues in Alabama and the U.S.,” he said.
Day said he and his volunteer teachers give seminars and programs to schools around the state. ALCAP visited 457 schools last year and more than 84,000 students heard the programs.
“We provide different modules of learning for schools,” Day said. “We offer programs about drug awareness, conflict resolution, anger management, preventing violence, preventing bullying, character education and preparation for prom.
“We send 4,000 letters twice a year to every school in the state telling them what we have to offer,” Day said. “They contact us with their request for the program and date they’d like.”
Last school year Day said the program on preventing bullying was the most popular one.
“This is a ministry that reaches out to kids of our state,” Day said, “It’s a prevention ministry, not one for intervening or maintenance.”
Day said they have more requests for programs than people to present them.
“We’re trying to enlist and recruit new teachers,” Day said. “We’ll train them, provide materials, reimburse mileage and give a small stipend.”
Day said they’re trying to build a larger teaching core. Currently ALCAP has 35 qualified teachers but only 21 were able to actually teach last year.
“We also have a limited number of teachers in certain geographical areas of the state,” he said.
“We’d prefer the teacher not to have to drive more than 25 miles to get to their program.”
To recruit teachers from across the state, ALCAP is having three conferences in various locations.
“These are ‘drive-in’ conferences,” Day said. “They will be able to drive there and not have to spend the night.”
Each conference will last for three hours and potential teachers will learn about making presentations and what being a teacher entails.
“We have teachers learn one program and then help them be available to present it,” Day said.
“We give at least two to three weeks advance notice about an upcoming program. We try to work with the volunteer teacher and the school if there’s a date conflict. We try to make it easy on the volunteer.”
Even if someone is not sure if they want to commit to teaching, Day said attending one of the conferences would beneficial.
“People who have any interest at all should still come,” Day said. “With the information we give them, they’ll become a great resource for their church and association.”
Volunteer teachers must have a college degree, or be a college student pursuing a degree.
“It’s not necessary for them to be a certified teacher or have an education background,” Day said. “We’ll give them the methods, techniques, visuals, videos and other materials to use. It’s a great way to let people get a taste of teaching.”
Day said the average teacher gives seven programs per year. “This is not a huge demand on your time.”
He also said ALCAP is especially interested in recruiting females for the education program.
“Currently we have no women teachers and we would love to have some,” Day said.
While Day recognizes the importance of what Christians do around the world, he said workers are needed at home as well.
“We have a tendency to glamorize what we do in foreign countries,” he said. “There’s a great need here in Alabama with kids who have problems. This is a great way for people to get plugged in and help.”
For more information on the conferences or about volunteering to teach, contact Bill Day, 205-985-9062.
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