Every child needs a role model, and on Thursday students at Deerfield Elementary School heard from a number of people they could look up to.
Eleven people in a variety of careers spoke at the Edgewood school as part of its annual Black History Month program, parent liaison Shirley Warfield said.
The goal is to stress to students the importance of staying in school, Warfield said.
"So they can get an education and be able to be out in the workplace and doing things that help and have something to look forward to," she said. "We don't want them out on the streets doing things that are harmful to them and other people."
She wants children to see they can grow up to be more than an athlete.
"I have a passion for children. I enjoy seeing them say 'I can do that, I don't have to be a football or basketball player. I can be a lawyer, or teacher, something other than playing sports," Warfield said.
She has been doing the Black History Month presentation at Deerfield for seven years.
She wants the students to see different African-American men and women and hear how they got started, the importance of staying in school and getting a degree,.
"Then when they graduate from high school or college, they will have something to look forward to," she said.
Among the more popular presenters this year was Stan Saunders, a retired television broadcaster, whose granddaughter goes to Deerfield.
Students like Saunders, she said, because they've seen him on television.
Also a hit with the students was Zumba instructor Tiffany Evans, who led them in a few moves.
Other presenters this year included Kiafa Knox, who spoke about dialysis; Kelly Miller, a T-shirt designer; Calvin Christy, a computer programmer; Bruce Lewis Jr., a physician assistant, and Theresa Lewis, in electrical engineering, both at Total Urgent Care; Dr. Reggie Silas, a writer; Deirdre Sumpter, who works in STEM for the U.S. Army Evaluation Center; Claudine Redwood-Grey, a storyteller; and Avis Johnson, a licensed practical nurse.