Bartholomew County high school students may apply for a Youth Empowerment Summit designed to build leadership skills, inspire personal action and expand the vision of a welcoming, safe, and supportive community.
One hundred local students will be selected to participate in the all-day event scheduled for April 29 at the Columbus Learning Center. Summit participants will start the day with an opening program that includes a welcome by the Columbus Mayor James D. Lienhoop.
Keynote speaker, Tyshaun Allen, Taylor Bros. Construction Co.. and president of Columbus Area Multi-Ethnic Organization (CAMEO), will present “Finding Your Own Path to Success.”
Students will have the opportunity to rotate through three sessions facilitated by local experts and supported with a Youth Ambassador team.These workshops have been designed to give participants a chance to reflect on their strengths, share insights with other teens and take away resources to help them become the leader they want to be.
Facilitators will share tips on taking steps toward financial independence, money management, time management, building a sense of community and activating a sense of belonging.
The day will also include a panel of four recent graduates who will reflect on their experiences for a perspective on life after high school. The panel will be moderated by Zacaria Scruggs, Columbus North High School senior and Youth Ambassador.
This free event is hosted by the following community partners: The Council for Youth Development (CYD), The African American Fund of Bartholomew County, Columbus Human Rights Commission, Tu Futuro, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC). The Youth Empowerment Summit was also made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors and grants: Healthy Communities, Indiana Department of Health Title V, Bartholomew County Substance Abuse Council Prevention Initiatives, and the Mark and Wendy Elwood Foundation.
Applications for the Youth Empowerment Summit are open at cydbartholomew.org and will close April 1.
