Rashaud Red grew up as the son of a single mother in what he describes as a “really tough neighborhood” in south Baton Rouge, La. His mother, Avis, toiled tirelessly to provide for Rashaud and his three siblings, but the family still struggled to make ends meet. Despite his violent surroundings and attending failing public schools, Avis instilled in her son unshakeable values, and she shielded him and his siblings from the troubles of the community in which they lived.

Over time, his mother’s hard work paid off. They moved to a safer neighborhood, and Rashaud was accepted to Mentorship Academy, the largest of 15 charter schools in East Baton Rouge Parish and home to 500 students who take part in a challenging STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum. In 2014, the number of failing public schools doubled in the parish, while Mentorship Academy continued to show marked academic improvement.

Read the article “How One Charter School Student is Transforming Youth Relationships with Police” on opportunitylives.com.