Steve Powers and Sensei Kevin Smith.
A Florence city councilman wanted to do something positive for kids in his city, without asking the city for money.
Steve Powers partnered with a karate instructor to help to change the lives of 33 children through self-discipline and control. "The city couldn't come up with funding for a lot of different projects, so I talked with Sensei Kevin. I wanted to do something with him and we're gonna do it on our own," he said.
Six weeks ago, the two started the Councilman Powers Youth Karate Discipline Project. The 33 kids in the project learned about not only karate - but life. Sensei Kevin said, "Karate is more than punching and kicking. It has to make you better in school. It makes you better child with your mom and dad cleaning your room that type of thing."
Parents like Cammie Clavon have noticed the difference. "It gave them an opportunity to understand what discipline really was - to understand 'I don't have to respond to people bullying me,' and it also gave them the skills to understand drugs are not good for me," she said.
Good morals and values is just what Councilman Powers had envisioned the kids would learn from this program. He said they now know they're the future of Florence.
The kids showcased their talents in an exhibition last week.
