Posted1/11/2021 5:30 AM
Jaiden Lovelace struggled with behavioral issues in middle school, often getting into trouble and affecting his grades.
But today, the 14-year-old from South Elgin, who dreams of playing football in the NFL some day, is focused on graduating from South Elgin High School.
It s why he joined Brothers Rise Up, a leadership program for Black male students in third-grade through high school within Elgin Area School District U-46. It helps monitor and improve students academic performance, attendance and behavior, and offers curriculum for character building, social skills, leadership and career development. I get a lot of emotional support and it s a place that we can be open and talk, Jaiden said of his interactions with peers in the group last year.