By Tina Montgomery
Teaching life skills and how to be a community leader are the goals for the Youth Empowerment Group coordinated by Patrick White.
The YEG is part of the work of White’s nonprofit organization We’re Here. The latest group met on June 25 at The Farm of Cultural Crossroads. White said he wants to teach at-risk youths basic life skills for them to be successful in life and become community leaders.
“I want to empower everyone as a whole. I want them to reach inside and pull out strength they find and bring their community together” White said.
The monthly events teach young people basic skills such as cooking, financial literacy, math skills and reading among other skills needed to be successful, including how to change a tire. Through the partnership with The Farm at Cultural Crossroads and various sponsors, the group has managed to reach upward to 200 youths at a recent event.
“I want to show that we’re really together [as a community]. Division is the result of wrong ideas and miscommunication,” according to White. His mission through We’re Here and the Youth Empowerment Group is to cut through that division and bring everyone together in our community.
Guest speakers volunteer to share their knowledge and experience to the young people who attend. Participants are treated to free food and drinks as they learn these life skills. All young people are encouraged to attend. Dates for future YEP meetings are to be announced.
