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The Davie Respect Initiative (DRI) celebrated the naming of two new ambassadors – Ali James and Jackson Barrett earlier this month.
Ali is 13 and attends Ellis Middle, and Jackson is 16 and a junior at Davie High.
“Again and again, it has been proven that when it comes to creative, thoughtful ideas, age does not matter,” said DRA volunteer Julia Burazer. “DRI is entering its seventh year and we continue to be inspired by the young people of Davie County and will continue to encourage and empower them to have a voice.”
Mocksville Mayor Will Marklin, who presented the awardees with $1,000 checks and Ambassador of Respect certificates, said Davie County is experiencing the ripple effects of DRI.
• Ali James shows respect to others in the following ways:
“1. Always listening to other people’s opinions, whether I agree with them or not.
“2. I care for my pets and farm animals because they depend on me.
“3. I always treat people with kindness because I never know what they are going through.”
Ali is an advocate for animal welfare and her respect project is a supply drive focused on collecting essential items for dogs and cats, including food, toys, chews, and treats. he arranged a drop off at Davie County Rec and Parks Center for Feb. 15. With the supplies she collected, Ali plans to equally distribute them to the Animal Shelter and Humane Society of Davie County. She created some attractive flyers and posted them in several businesses to encourage participation in the collection, which was, in spite of the weather, a success.
Ali’s life is filled with animals, including two dogs – Phoebe, a Weimaraner, and Boone, a pointer rescue, her cat Marley, eight goats, chickens and her latest, a sweet quarter horse, she received as a Christmas surprise.
Besides collecting for the shelter and Humane Society, another hope is that, “others are inspired to do something good in our community by seeing the joy of helping those in need.”
• Jackson became involved in SkillsUSA his freshman year at Davie High and became president in his junior year.
SkillsUSA is the No. 1 workforce development organization for students. Jackson has been interested in auto mechanics and cars since he was a child and his favorite car is a 1971 Chevy Nova.
Jackson’s Respect Project is to host a SkillsUSA signing day that will allow those who are going into trades after high school to be recognized for the amount of time that they have put into their schooling to master a skill.
Jackson’s hope is that this signing day will inspire others “to respect trade workers as I do because they do very important work and do not get the recognition and respect they deserve.”
Jackson credits Davie High for promoting the trades and he acknowledges that he has seen more respect for the trades in recent years.
Next steps for Jackson include attending a 4 year university to study construction management and mechanical engineering with a goal of one day owning his own construction business. He credits his parents for supporting him and his dad is a big car guy who taught him a lot
Working on and racing cars is Jackson’s passion and the person he would most like to meet is Richard Petty.
“We think Mr. Petty would like to meet Jackson too,” Burazer said.
Marklin stated at the end of the celebration at Mocksville Town Hall” “With young people like Ali and Jackson, our future is in good hands.”
Do you know a young person or Davie County youth group between the ages of 12-21 “doing good, being kind, or showing respect” to people, animals or the environment?
Empower them by anonymously nominating them at www.davierespect.com. Up to three new Ambassadors of Respect may be selected by the volunteer selection panel each quarter. The next quarter ends on March 31 and individual youths and DC youth groups can apply on their own or after having been nominated. Email comments or questions to initiaterespect1@gmail.com.