A Youth Summit for area high school students has been planned for Saturday, June 5, from 5 to 11 p.m., at the old Tryon Middle School building, located on Harmon Field Road in Tryon.
The summit will begin with workshops related to “Appreciating Diversity,” “Coping with Life & Stress Management,” “Going Green,” “Transition to the Real World & Owning Your Own Business,” and “Straight Talk on Drugs and Alcohol.” Pizza, drinks and dessert will be provided.
The summit will end with area entertainment including DJ Brooke Hannon, Noah Stockdale (www.myspace.com/NoahStockdale), and Jake and the Crew. The summit is free to area high school students, but a permission slip must be signed by a parent. The permission slip can be obtained by contacting Donna Tatnall at 828-859-7099 or can be downloaded directly by going to the Thermal Belt Friendship Council website located at http://friendshipcouncil.homestead.com/Permission-Form.html.
The Youth Summit grew out of the Thermal Belt Friendship Council discussions on “The State of the Youth Community,” and strategies to create outreach to the young people of Tryon, Landrum, and surrounding communities. During the discussion, a member brought up the video posted on www.youtube.com, “Is Anybody Listening? A Testament on the Economic Crisis.” The Friendship Councils response was, “We Are Listening–Is Anybody Talking?”
Members of the Youth Summit Planning Committee have been meeting with high school representatives from Polk County, Landrum, and North Henderson High Schools to plan the Summit. Out of the meetings, a new youth group, the Youth Community Connection, was created to sponsor service projects for youth throughout local communities. It has begun the “youth arm” of the Thermal Belt Friendship Council.
The Thermal Belt Friendship Council is a loosely-based organization to promote social, racial, equality, and diversity issues in our surrounding communities. Its mission is to bridge the racial gap between communities. The Thermal Belt Friendship Council has never required members to pay membership dues. Its two main annual events are the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and a community picnic. Additionally, the Thermal Belt Friendship Council continues to provide a scholarship to a rising senior to help alleviate some of the financial burdens of attending college. We meet monthly at the Roseland Community Center in Tryon on the second Tuesday of every month except June and July. You can find out more by visiting us on the web at http://friendshipcouncil.homestead.com.
article submitted
&bsp;