Local youth learn leadership and community-building skills at YSU event today

YOUNGSTOWN

Building leadership and community spirit among today’s youth, preparing them to be tomorrow’s leaders, was the focus of the first Youth Explosion Saturday at Youngstown State University.

Some 150 high school students from across the Mahoning Valley gathered at YSU’s Kilcawley Center to hear presentations from area leaders in government, business and civic organizations. They heard presentations about networking for success, designing dreams for their future, going the extra mile to empower their community, and public speaking. There was also a round-table discussion about business opportunities in the Mahoning Valley.

At the end of the day, the teens were encouraged to sign on as junior board members or youth advisory members of one of the nonprofit organizations.

Attendees Jazmin Dandridge, 14, of Austintown, and Krystal Brown, 19, of Youngstown, said they came to Youth Explosion looking for growth, and to learn about how they can help bring about change both locally and globally.

Both said they are concerned about the deterioration of family units.

“Families are tearing each other down when they should be working together to change neighborhoods,” Jazmin said.

“I just want people to see that Youngstown is a good place, and it can be a better place,” Brown said.

For more on the event, read Sunday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.