Implement AmericasCHILD RELAY YOUTH

AmericasCHILD RELAY Children/Youth Development program was established in 1986 and over almost 3 decades from North Carolina to Maryland, HELPED develop nearly 1,000 children between the ages of 3-19.  Many of these children have become adults over the years and now are doctors, lawyers, actors/actresses, educators, teachers, military personnel, engineers, healthcare professionals, entreprenuers, etc.  They have gone on to attend some of this nation's best colleges & universities (North Carolina A&T, UNC, East Carolina, Howard U., Florida A&M, Harvard U., UNC-G, NCCU, etc.)

This program was founded in 1986 by Ted L. Mangum, a Vietnam War Vet, who was suffering from PTSD; but could not receive help from the V.A. and thus, decided to spend MOST of his time (18-21 hours a day) working with and developing children (having at 20 in Vietnam, seen the tremendous damage done to many children in war; he wanted to offer a BETTER future and CHOICES to the next generation of children).  Thus, he founded RELA (as it was initially called); to expose children to the rapidly approaching world of technology.  Yet, the process began with the purchasing and distribution of some 6,000 new books to low income children as young as 3 yrs. old.  When children reached the age of 6, they were introduced to video cameras and computers.  By the age of 8, they were in several professional TV studios throughout the Greensboro and Durham, NC Communities and produced over 800 TV broadcast including the LIVE production and broadcast of Greensboro (NC) City Council meetings.  Guess and appearances on their shows included NBA superstar, Michael Jordan, comedian Sindbad, international jazz star, Tom Browne, literacy advocate and businessman, Wally "Famous Amos", national entrepenuer, Joe and Eunice Dudley and Harvey Gantt,  the late Senator Terry Sanford, House Representative Howard Coble, House Representative and leader of the Congressional Black Carcus, Mel Watt; gospel greats, Yolanda Adams and John P. Kee, Milton Brunson, and MANY, MANY local and statewide civic leaders.

Since 2007, Mr. Mangum has suffered from burn-out and an extensive relaspse with his struggle with PTSD, which the V.A. "finally" acknowledged and awarded him 70% disability with an appeal towards 100%.  But this is too little too late.  Mr. Mangum has suffered a heart attack and is physically and emotionally unable to meet the demands of implementing or running such a demanding program.  However, he has agreed to advise other (including several members of the original; now adults; RELAY crew in re-establishing this program; which received statewide awards and acclaims for its TOTALLY POSITIVE IMPACT on the lives of its participants and their communities.  Among those awards were the Z. Smith Reynolds Award for "Community Change"; and the local Greensboro Branch NAACP award for YOUTH DEVELOPMENT; as well as national literacy awards from R.I.F. and the American Library Association.

This program is one of the MOST PRODUCTIVE "year round after school programs ever.  THE PROOF is in the success of the children who have participated in it.  RELAY's motto is "TAKING AWAY THE CRUTCHES & EXCUSES FOR FAILURE; and REPLACING THEM WITH THE TOOLS FOR SUCCESS!"  We are hoping not only to establish AmericasCHILD RELAY (CHILD stands for "children health issues, literacy & development) and (RELAY stands for RESEARCH, EDUCATION & LITERACY ASSISTANCE for YOUTH); back in Greensboro and Raleigh, NC (Mr. Mangum's hometown); but in the Maryland/DC area as well; where Mr. Mangum, before his health began to deteriorate, had began such an effort along with two other Military Veterans.