Sw Louisiana News

On October 22, 2024, during the City of Lake Charles' "Love Your City" event, Reginald Weeks was honored as the 2024 Mayor's Mentor Awardee by Mayor Nic Hunter. Mr. Weeks has committed his career to aiding challenged youth through his nonprofit organization, Commitment to Change (C2C).

As the director and founder of C2C, Mr. Weeks provides support for young individuals who have faced difficulties with the school system or legal challenges. The program offers counseling on various topics such as financial literacy, substance abuse, parenting, decision-making, and social skills. It also helps connect participants with community resources.

Mr. Weeks is also focused on addressing disparities in ACT/SAT scores among minority students and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Through C2C, he raises funds to purchase Casio Advanced System calculators and collaborates with local school counselors and principals to provide these tools to students in need. This initiative aims to improve their academic performance and increase scholarship opportunities.

Mayor Nic Hunter praised Mr. Weeks for his dedication: “We had a number of deserving nominees for this year’s award, but what really stood out about the work Mr. Weeks is doing is his commitment to youth who may have already made some ill-advised decisions. These young men and women deserve a second chance, and Mr. Weeks helps them see this opportunity as well. His efforts are paying off.”

The mayor further acknowledged Mr. Weeks' collaboration with community resources: “Our community has so many resources available, and Mr. Weeks is making use of them. By working with the community, Office of Juvenile Justice Services, our local court system and our local school system, he is offering a hand up to young people who often feel forgotten."

For more information about Commitment to Change, visit www.commitmenttochangec2c.com.