These Students are Men IN Action

On Thursday, March 13, during the time when they'd normally be arriving at school and heading to class, more than a dozen young men — juniors and seniors at Avon High School — boarded a minibus with Principal Matt Shockley so they could participate in Men IN Action Read. Over the last several years, this event has become a fixture, not only in Avon Schools, but in every school corporation in Hendricks County.

Men IN Action Read is an event created and led by Sheltering Wings, a nonprofit organization that exists to provide haven, home, and hope for women and men who have survived domestic violence. Their work isn't limited to helping when when unfortunate circumstances occur. They are working to prevent acts of violence — of all types — before it has a chance to begin.

I love getting to see our young men interact with younger students. Matt Shockley

Enter Mr. Shockley and our dedicated juniors and seniors.

According to experts, there are effective ways to prevent violence. Many of them start when young children — like our elementary school students — have chances to form positive relationships with caring adults — like our high school seniors. There are other experiences and assets that help young people grow up with the confidence and character they need to make good, safe choices: fostering a love of reading, succeeding in their academics, knowing their community values them, and more. (You can learn about developmental assets on the Sheltering Wings website.)

"Not only do I personally enjoy having a chance to volunteer my time to read with elementary-aged students," says Shockley, "I love getting to see our young men interact with younger students. They have a great deal of influence, and they do a fantastic job. Men IN Action Read gives these seniors a chance to plant positive seeds in hundreds of young lives."

Thank you, young men, for investing in our youngest Orioles. Keep on serving and leading! And thank you, Sheltering Wings, for mobilizing the men in our community and county. Your work is making a difference in many lives.