By MARY LYNNE O'NEAL

Staff Writer

Many local underprivileged children are helped every day, thanks to Tech's own Dr. Rick Emerson and staff. The group of student interns and volunteers at the Emerson Centre take the time out to help those in need.

The Emerson Centre, located at 201 N. Vienna St. across from The Strand in downtown Ruston, caters to low income families and children who are in need of counseling or any kind of help from those willing to listen.

"We receive references from juvenile courts, an organization called Families in Need of Service, the truancy center and local schools," Emerson, founder of the Emerson Centre and an instructor of sociological sciences, said.

"Most of the time we do our work outside the center, in homes and schools," Emerson said.

He also said the current staff includes five interns from Lincoln Parish, 12 volunteers, including Tech students, and even graduate and undergraduate students, from Grambling State University, Northwestern State University-Natchitoches and University of Louisiana-Monroe.

"Of course, most internships can only be done your junior and senior years, but freshmen and sophomores of any major can come and volunteer if they want to help out," Emerson said.

He said they would not have as many responsibilities as a regular intern or staff member, but they could be there to assist in activities and be exposed to what goes on.

The Emerson Centre has been open for five years but became a non-profit organization nine months ago. It covers both Lincoln and Union Parishes, and Emerson said they are looking to expand to Jackson and Bienville Parishes as well.

Dr. Gary Stokley, an associate professor of social sciences and Emerson Centre board member, said Emerson has been volunteering for several years to help children.

"If you work with him, you know that during his professional career in counseling he has focused on kids and the problems they face," Stokley said. "He brings that same focus to the classroom for our majors."

Michael Rogers, a sociology graduate from Tech, worked for the Emerson Centre in the summer. "I enjoyed working there because it really prepared me for working in the field [of social work]," Rogers said.

Kaneisha Jones, a junior sociology major, is just beginning her time working for the center and said she looks forward to helping people out. "I think it's such a great idea to reach these kids [and their families]," Jones said. "It's going to help me so much when I graduate."

Stokley said anyone interested in helping out would receive training and would need to be able to meet once a week for a staff meeting.

For more information about the Emerson Centre, contact Emerson at 257-2774 or Stokley at 257-4804.