Eric Morton doesn't want children walking down the same path upon which he ventured as a youth growing up on the mean, drug-infested streets of a rough Charleston neighborhood.

He's older now, and the husband and father has now committed his life to steering young people away from the negative influences of street life and toward physical and academic achievement.

After graduating from Claflin University with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Morton decided to dedicate his life to helping youngsters develop a positive lifestyle and reach their full potential.

Morton began working as a paraprofessional in Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 at Howard and William J. Clark middle schools.

"I worked in the special education department. I taught physical activity lessons. I made sure they took their medicine, carried them to their appointments within the school, monitored and tutored in groups of three," Morton said.

He has since gone on to develop his own after-school and summer program, Our Kids Inc. Housed at the Williams Grand Lodge at 921 Russell St. in Orangeburg, the program now boasts approximately 100 children.

"I actually started it in 2002 at Howard Middle School as a boot camp alternative for being suspended from school. I just expanded it to what it is now. I've got a love of the kids, and it's also a way of giving back so I can help a child not go down the road that I did. I was just lucky to get off that road, but some might not get off," Morton said.

The program runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and serves children age 5 to 16. The program is not exclusive to Orangeburg County children, but all five-year-old kindergarten through 12th grade students from Orangeburg Consolidated School Districts 3, 4 and 5 are eligible to participate.

Tutoring, mentoring, physical education, enrichment instruction and field trips are all included among the program activities. Special programs include: champion basketball academy; Lose It! exercise and training program; Keeping Everyone's Mind on Nutrition, or K.E.M.O.N., and an I ... Can mentoring program, which pairs children with an academician/athlete to help with academic and life skills.

A 3 CAT program combining character education, computer technology, career enhancement and academic tutoring are included, among other programs.

"Our Kids is an alternative for kids ... to do some things that other camps and programs don't have, like creative arts, arts and crafts, praise dancing and poetry learning. In the summer months, ... we stress the weakest courses that a kid has at the end of the year. We try to work on those for the upcoming school year," he said.

The 13-member staff includes seven adults and six teenagers who serve as counselors.

"We have a lot of athletes that are just finishing high school, or going to college that wanted to work with some kids. One adult is a master barber and cosmetologist. One works for South Carolina State as a counselor, and we do have a couple of retired teachers" who volunteer along with others from Claflin University's Service Learning Center and SCSU's CHAMPS program, Morton said.

Morton's wife, Angel, who will soon be completing a degree in family and consumer science and child development, serves as a counselor and program coordinator. South Carolina State University's 1890 Research and Extension Program also provides counselors.

Charles Artis, program coordinator for community economic development at the SCSU 1890 Program, said financial management, nutrition and leadership training are among the topics on which the students are counseled.

"At 1890, we were just encouraged and thought it was a way to give our support. Working in the community and with our youth is part of our mission. I think it's a great program," Artis said.

"This is his baby. It's an idea that he's had for years. I'm just proud to be part of it," Mrs Morton said. "He has a lot to offer the children as far as experience goes. His main focus is life skills and character building, and that's a lot of what's implemented into the program."

John Wrice, grandmaster of Williams Grand Lodge, said he was happy to be able to provide use of the lodge building as he and Morton try "to make a difference" in children's lives.

"He had the program and we had the facility. I'm thinking it's working very well. The counselors are doing an excellent job. I'm hoping we can expand. We still have applications from people that want their youngsters to be in the program," Wrice said.

Raven Anderson, an 11-year-old student at Northside Middle School in Columbia, said she learns and has fun at the same time.

"I like playing and getting to know other kids and stuff. We jump rope, and I like doing different activities. We have rap sessions, when we talk about different topics. Today it was a credit session," Anderson said.

"Before I came to this program, I had to stay home and clean up, so it's really fun. If you stay at home not doing anything and it's just boring, you can come here and have fun, meet new people and play games," she said.

Morton said the program fee is $30 per week for the first child, and $15 per week for each additional child. He said donations are also welcome for the program, which began in January.

"We're open to donations. We're trying to have a back-to-school jam, where we give supplies, clothes and everything," he said.

For more information on Our Kids Inc., contact Morton, Angel Morton or Debra Wannamaker, executive director, at 803-682-7356.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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