Washington Early College gets an assist from Atlanta Hawk Damien Wilkins

Big thanks to Washington High’s Early College for sharing information about the 5-Alive Program presented by D.Y.N.A.2M.I.C. Foundation, Inc., led by president and founder Shena Locke and Atlanta Hawk Damien Wilkins. This program is a developmental program targeting at-risk males that addresses the “5 A’s”: Attitude, Academics, Accountability, Appreciation, and Ambition. The D.Y.N.A.2M.I.C. Foundation offers students the opportunity to utilize the fundamentals of sports & entertainment to motivate youth in the classroom.

This program also aims to improve skills including academics, attendance, and attitude of students by offering an alternative method of teaching youth the importance of staying focused, staying in school, and reaching their goals. The goals of the 5-Alive Program will be met by requiring that the males complete a group project.

Once a week, students will meet with their groups to utilize creativity and problem-solving skills to solve the “5-Alive Challenge.” Participants are motivated by an incentive to earn the chance to attend an Atlanta Hawks game as special guests of Wilkins by putting together the best and most thought-provoking plan. Wilkins will periodically return to Washington Early College to personally check on students’ progress. Students will also attend sessions led by adults who have been successful in their careers and are from backgrounds similar to those of the students.