The World Ebony Network (WEN) is bringing “It Takes a Village” campaign to city schools. The organization’s aim is to partner with Tri-City area schools to foster the communal concept of education children and to improve academic excellence. Currently WEN is partnering with three Petersburg schools — Peabody Middle, Petersburg High and St. Joseph Catholic School.

According to Dr. Ezi Mecha, founder & CEO of WEN, the three local school principals – Dr. Don Betchel at Peabody Middle, Alicia Fields at Petersburg High, and Joseph Whitmore at St. Joseph, share WEN’s vision and are allowing their students to participate in World Ebony Network proposed activities.
During the presentation of the 1st Annual WEN essay competition winners, Mrs. Robin Williams, who enthusiastically offered to be the WEN Essay Committee lead judge, announced

that the essay was judged by the collaboration of several judges in the United States and overseas. She informed the audience that the essay was judged based on the essay contest guidelines provided to the committee.

The essay contest winner was Mr. Joseph Briscoe, who was presented with a certificate and a $100.00 dollar gift card in the honor of Col. Frank Underwood Sr.

Gracing the occasion, was Dr. Nasser Ghariban, in honor of Dr. Haile Dawit, Dean of Virginia State University (VSU) Engineering and Technology Department and our community partner. We thank the department for agreeing to join in advancing the academic excellence of Peabody Middle School and other schools in the Tri-City area.