Amidst the whirlwind of preparing for the start of the Saints' off-season program and this year's NFL draft, Wide Receivers Coach Curtis Johnson, spent his off days this past weekend devoting time to our community.

Coach Johnson was a keynote speaker at a Destrehan High School awards ceremony on Friday night where members of their 2007 varsity football team were honored for an outstanding season after being crowned as the Louisiana Class 5A State Champions. During his speech, he stressed the importance of being persistent, maintaining a good work ethic, appreciating the chance to play football on the collegiate level, and seizing the opportunity to receive a college education…a message that was well received by all of the athletes in attendance.

Early Saturday afternoon, he and his wife, Angel, took part in a career fair sponsored by Urban Impact Ministries at the Castle Rock Community Church located on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. Here, underprivileged middle and high school students had the opportunity to sit one-on-one with several local figures who provided them with a little insight about the education, skills, and training needed to succeed in their respective professions.

As a professional coach in the NFL, Coach Johnson believes that it is especially important to support activities within the inner city where the youth can realize that their aspirations of being successful in the future does not have to be hindered, simply because of the environment in which they currently live.

"I grew up only a couple of blocks from Castle Rock, so I know what it's like for the youth living in this area", he said. "Being able to spend a few moments to shed some light on these kids' lives and let them just 'pick the brains' of the people they admire who can give them the encouragement they need to start building their road to success, makes my days like this more worthwhile."