Virgin Islands Daily News columnist Devin “Dutchie” Robinson, an economics professor in Atlanta, Georgia, best-selling author and one-time juvenile delinquent, has entered into a partnership with the Education Ministry of the British Virgin Islands.
Robinson said, “It is a great honor to be welcomed to serve the students of the British Virgin Islands in such an intimate way.” As a youth, he struggled with making wholesome decisions and often found himself facing consequences. The son of a retired police officer, by the age of 17, he was arrested five times and faced three felonies. He said, “Though I was always an “A” student, school wasn’t very important to me.” Ironically, today he is an educator who urges youth across the country to perform well academically and socially. He designed a behavior transformation program two years ago and began introducing it to government and education agencies throughout the Caribbean and the United States. He has visited the territory dozens of times throughout the past five years to speak to youth and community leaders on the importance of long-term decision-making.
The Education Ministry of the British Virgin Islands is the first agency in the Caribbean to bring his program to their population. They have completed the acquisition of material for 700 students throughout their islands and will implement the program at the beginning of 2010. An additional several hundred books were obtained for their prison population as well.
Robinson sees this as progress. In his words, “The BVI understands the need and recognizes my background and work as being an effective solution. What I do for my community isn’t only limited to speeches and newspaper columns.”
Robinson led a 7-mile Peace Walk on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, on Sept. 5 that attracted over 300 people six days after speaking at a Parent University Conference with TV personality Judge Mathis on St. Croix. His organization is Going Against the Grain Group. Web site: www.devinrobinson.com and phone number: 202-684-6699.