Nina Philistin and Jahzara Farmer. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

The Quail Valley River Club was the ideal setting for the 46th annual Tropical Night Luau to benefit the Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy. Arriving guests were offered colorful leis as they gathered poolside for the cocktail hour, the ambiance further enhanced by steel drums and a lovely breeze off the water.

Youth Guidance is celebrating its 50th year providing mentoring and skills training to enrollees ages 6 to 24, some of whom happily described their involvement.

“We’re in the cooking class,” said Jahzara, 14, explaining that they were taken to Olive Garden to practice their dining and etiquette skills, and another time a chef came to teach them how to cook curry and rice.

“It’s a really fun program,” said Nina, 14. The two then donned chef’s jackets and expertly prepared ahi tuna appetizers for the appreciative guests.

“This is our sewing booth. The kids from last semester made ALL of this,” said Prycille, 11, with true gameshow hostess flair, referencing a tableful of items. “I hand-sewed a Llama plushie and I made a big plushy. I feel proud of that one, because I used no template.”

“Sewing is a healthy environment for your child to learn how to make new things,” said Malaysia, sounding older than her 9 years. Referencing a quote embroidered on the square of a large quilt, she said, “That one really hits me. It says, ‘Sewing mends the soul.’”

At another table, Josiah, 9, said they were learning how to garden and compost, explaining, “After we watch a video on what we’re doing, we go outside to our garden and water our beds, check up on our plants and put some new soil in when it’s time.”

A Youth Guidance participant for over 10 years, Genese, 17, said she has participated in most every program. She is now one of 25 young adults in the Pre-Apprenticeship program, designed to help them obtain careers in high demand trades: HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, electric and welding.

“Nowadays we have so many different versions of what path we can go on. Trade is just a whole other world, just like college, which might be for us, but it might not be. I’ve got so many opportunities to come,” said Genese. Asked what she wants to be, she grinned and said, “We’ll find out.”

Before heading inside for an outstanding dinner, guests were entertained by hula dancers, joined ably by youngsters and fire dancers.

“We have been serving the community of Indian River County since 1973. And actually, our very first mentee is in the audience tonight, Mr. Brian Connelly,” said Phil Barnes, YG executive director.

“In addition to the one-on-one mentoring that we provided way back when, we have really expanded what we do at Youth Guidance. We provide vocational training, academic enrichment and life skills to approximately 200 children, teenagers and young adults every single year,” said Barnes.

“Anything we can do to help our kids succeed, that’s what we do at Youth Guidance. Last year we had 100 percent of our students graduate high school on time, and all the Pre-Apprentice participants are either employed or enrolled in college or technical school.”
Barnes said they had raised just shy of their $1.5 million capital campaign to completely renovate their 8,600-square-foot facility. An anonymous donor has pledged an additional $250,000 to furnish the space.

A competitive live auction and paddle raise that brought in much-needed dollars to cover operational expenses was followed by an impromptu paddle raise toward the capital campaign.

Ensuring that they would meet that goal, Michael Pierce pledged the final $75,000 in memory of his late wife, Kathie.

“It’s an organization that Kathie and I have supported over the years,” said Pierce. “I’m happy to get them to the finish line.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2024. For more information, visit YouthGuidanceProgram.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis