During the 2014-2015 school year, a citizen of New Iberia who got sick and tired of seeing our city's youth going down the wrong road, took action by starting the Our Kids Matter initiative.

Our Kids Matter is a non-profit organization with a mission to build resilient kids who say "No" to violence. The goal of this organization is to surround the children with positive views on education, mentoring and being positive role models in their communities.

Shelbra Thompson along with many other active community members launched Our Kids Matter to show kids that with everything going on today's world, all they should be worrying about is furthering their education rather than falling behind or being misled by the media's portrayal of them.

Thompson got the idea for Our Kids Matter one day while scrolling on Facebook. She came across a school in Philadelphia where there were men greeting the children as they were walking into school, cheering them on for something as simple as walking into school. Thompson then thought "if they can do that, I can do that right here in my community."

Her mission was to have both men and women, servicemen, police officers, firemen, lawyers, doctors, teachers and anyone in the community standing in front of school cheering on students.

Since the first day the program was launched, the morning pep squads at each school have only gotten larger and larger. A schedule is made letting people know which school to show up to on which day.

The crowds of cheer-parents usually go to an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school all in one morning. As the kids step off of their buses, they are greeted with chants, high fives, and smiling faces. All for just going to school.

Even though something like going to school might seem simple, it isn't always for everyone. While even attending public school, supplies, school fees and the cost of school uniforms can be so expensive that some kids cannot go to school. Rest assured, Our Kids Matter along with other local organizations had a solution.

This year, Our Kids Matter hosted its 1st Annual Back To School event where kids were given backpacks, school supplies and were given a free lunch as well as a tasty funnel cake. The looks on the kids' faces showed just how grateful they were that people took notice of them and cared. You have to instill in them now and always that they matter, that what they do now and every day matters.

Shelbra Thompson says she hopes the program will continue to grow to every community, city, and state. She hopes to start having events year-round for the kids to be rewarded for their hard work and dedication throughout the school year.

"I want to show the world Our Kids Matter."

- Shelbra Thompson