Vicksburg’s Ward 1 Alderman Thomas J. Mayfield as one of his first acts in office is giving credit to local teenagers who have chosen to enter the workforce as a means of avoiding trouble and remaining productive.

In a statement, Mayfield’s office commended the teenagers and their responsible choices after giving them recognition in person Monday at his Vicksburg City Hall office.

“A group of local teenagers from Vicksburg, including Fabian Moore, Corderrion Valentine, Devin Banks, and Felton Moore, decided to take a proactive approach to their summer,” the statement reads. “Rather than spending it idly, they secured jobs at a Burger King in Clinton, Mississippi. The initiative began when Shakayla Dixon, Corderrion’s mother and a manager at Burger King, invited her son to work. Corderrion saw an opportunity for his friends and basketball teammates to earn money and stay out of trouble, so he brought them along.”

The decision to work was fueled by a desire to contribute positively to their community amidst concerns about youth violence, Mayfield said. Corderrion expressed his hope that their choice to work would inspire other young people to avoid trouble.

“Their story gained significant traction on social media after Dixon posted about it on Facebook, leading to over 5,000 shares and 10,000 likes. The story’s impact grew when Nick Cannon, a well-known comedian and TV host, shared it on Instagram, where it received nearly 100,000 likes.”