Enrollees in the Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy delighted guests at the 45th annual Tropical Night Luau, held at the Boulevard Tennis Club, speaking passionately about how they participate in the nonprofit’s many programs.
As Youth Guidance enters its 50th anniversary year, it is embarking on a capital campaign to fund the renovation and expansion of its facility to further enhance its offerings.
In addition to one-on-one and group scholastic mentoring, programs include computer skills, robotics, sewing, cooking and gardening, and vocational training in bicycle repair and boat mechanics.
“We just learned to sew last semester,” said 11-year-old Hezekiah, who confidently described the sewing machine’s many intricacies. Standing alongside him, Kadi, age 10, proudly showed off the hold-all “bucket” she had sewn.
Group leader Joseph Gotay said they partner with Bike Walk Indian River County, which provides four instructors to teach students the fundamentals of bike repair while rehabbing bicycles for themselves and others.
“I’ve been in the whole Youth Guidance program for almost two years, and I’m finishing my own bike this year,” said Faith, 13.
There is also a pre-apprenticeship program to learn career skills in HVAC, plumbing, welding, carpentry and electric. Joseph Harrington, who went through the program last year, is now an apprentice with F. V. Casano Electric.
“He’s sponsoring me to go to school, so I get my on-the-job learning hours and I get my classroom hours. So in four years I could become a journeyman and make some big money,” said Harrington.
A trio of 14-year-old young ladies – Tavoroua, Elise and Gabby – spoke about their involvement in Pathfinders, a youth Exchange Club subset, with each girl expounding on the club’s pillars: Americanism, Community Service and Youth Programs.
Introducing Phil Barnes, YG executive director, auctioneer Neil Saffer recalled their first phone call, and said “he was unbelievably passionate about youth and changing lives and building futures. This is how you change the world. This is how you change tomorrow.”
“Everybody here makes what we do possible at Youth Guidance. And that is, providing our kids a better future, making sure that they have the skills they need to go out there and become successful adults,” said Barnes, thanking everyone for their support.
Darmeshia Brunson expressed her thanks, appreciative that her daughter, Dhalani Henry, was able to take part in activities she could not do otherwise, such as weekly horseback riding over the summer.
Dhalani, 7, thoroughly charmed the crowd with her infectious enthusiasm, relating that she has been enrolled at YG for two years and that making crafts is one of her favorite activities.
“Youth Guidance means a lot to me because I get to make new friends, have fun and learn new things,” said Dhalani, to cheers and applause.
“It just goes to show that what you see here, between sewing and cooking, gardening and the pre-apprenticeship, where we provide certifications for kids to go out and get jobs in the trades, these are the kind of programs that we believe will lead to successful futures for our kids. And, of course, we’re providing that caring guidance along the way,” said Barnes.
The evening also featured skilled hula dancers, plus some intrepid guests enticed to join in on the fun, and a fire eater/dancer – not surprisingly, not joined by volunteers. Guests dined at tables in the clubhouse and out on the covered veranda on a Hawaiian feast, complete with a whole roasted pig, by Counter Culture Chef proprietors Anthony and Lisa Damiano, and competitively bid on the live auction items.
For more information, visit YouthGuidanceProgram.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
