DAILY LEADER / JUSTIN VICORY / Brookhaven Boys and Girls Club Director Melanie Lewis (back row from left) and Otis Bracey, 14, sit in the background while Alexia Dixon, 11, gets ready to speak into the microphone Friday afternoon at WCHJ AM radio station during a Black History Month program. Club members are presenting programs on the station at 4:30 p.m. every afternoon for the next two weeks.

At 4:30 p.m. every afternoon for the next two weeks, area children will be heard on the local AM dial, showing appreciation for prominent members of the African American community in honor of Black History month.

For two weeks in February every year, long-time educator and community volunteer Melanie Lewis and a group of kids try their hand at radio broadcasting, and fill the airwaves with true-to-life stories of inspiration and courage.

The Black History appreciation project is the brainchild of Lewis, who is the area director of the Boys and Girls Club of America.

All of the children involved in the radio project are part of the Brookhaven Boys and Girls Club. Many of the kids pick the subject that they talk about, and in turn help educate the public about their chosen topic or individual.

On Friday, Alexia Dixon, 11, and Otis Bracely, 14, answered questions from WCHJ radio owner and operator Charles Tillman. While Bracey spent time talking about the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. to society, Dixon found first lady Michelle Obama particularly inspiring. WCHJ is a Brookhaven-based, 24-hour gospel radio station on the 1470 AM dial.

Lewis has been coordinating the radio show appearances for a number of years now. It has helped the kids learn about influential key role models from the past and present. The program has also enriched her life, Lewis explained.

“It’s encouraging to see many of these kids go on and put the characteristics of the ones they learn about into their own lives,” she said.

For years Lewis has been providing a safe haven for children and young teenagers in the community. A former kindergarten teacher, Lewis works as an education trainer at the Mississippi Adolescent Center. Immediately after work, she oversees 80 children at the Boys and Girls Club of Brookhaven.

Her mission with the club is providing an essential service to the community.

“We ensure the kids have a safe haven between school and home. Many of the children’s parents don’t get home until 5:30 or 6. We watch after them. We also make sure the kids have something to eat, and we then help them with homework,” said Lewis.

Some kids wind up taking on the volunteer calling that Lewis has practiced as a lifelong pursuit.

“Another great thing is that I’ve been doing this for so long that I’ve seen kids grow up and come back to the club to work as volunteers,” said Lewis.

The Boys and Girls Club of America is designed to partner with youth, parents, schools and other community stakeholders to intervene in the lives of kids aged 5-18 in the community.

One of its primary goals is to provide positive role models for boys and girls. Another goal of the BGCA programs is to help youth “become responsible, caring citizens and acquire skills for participating in the democratic process.”

The goals and activities of the club are plentiful throughout the year, according to Lewis.

“The radio show is just one part of a number of programs and projects we get the kids involved with. I’m very proud of the work we all do at the club.”

Lewis will accompany two or three area children on the radio station every school day until Wednesday, Feb. 19.