South Side church sponsors YouthFest

October 2, 2016 at 12:07a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

You could think of revitalizing struggling neighborhoods and improving a city a lot like putting together a puzzle – not so much by the number of pieces, but by how they’re all interrelated.

Perhaps the core, central piece of making such an effort cohesive, successful and sustainable is everyday quality-of-life issues, surrounded by pieces that include everything from overall neighborhood pride to block-watch programs to full-service grocery stores that offer healthful foods.

The picture wouldn’t be complete, however, if it failed to include a greater number of opportunities for families raising young children so they will be more likely to stay put and contribute to the area’s vitality, a neighborhood activist and school-board member contends.

That was a key idea behind Saturday’s South Side YouthFest at Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church, 3919 Southern Blvd., on the South Side.

“I love this city; I love the South Side, and I think there are a lot of reasons to be proud here,” said Dario Hunter, president of the 6th Ward Citizens Coalition, which hosted the gathering. “Part of this event is to say, “Youngstown is a family city … and a wonderful place to raise a family.”

The free, family-friendly fest was part of the coalition’s Community Mobilization Series, set up to encourage greater community engagement throughout the ward’s neighborhoods, organizers have said.

The 6th Ward has few parks and playgrounds, so youngsters face limited recreational opportunities, something that goes hand in hand with promoting a more positive image of the city, said Hunter, who also sits on the Youngstown Board of Education. Saturday’s event was an effort to reach out to children while providing educational offerings and bringing together a greater number of neighbors, he said.

“It is about fun, but also about futures,” he added.

The coalition’s main goals are to develop greater community engagement, add more block-watch programs largely to tackle crime and blight and increase neighborhood pride, noted Holly Henry, the group’s treasurer.

“We want to make the 6th Ward a place people want to live,” Henry said, adding the area offers a lot of affordable homes, but lacks a regular grocery store.

The fest featured plenty of offerings for children and adults, including art and educational activities, a bounce house, food and beverages and a school-supply giveaway of items such as notebooks, pencils, erasers, glue sticks and binders. Also popular was face-painting, something Henry’s two children, Elizabeth, 5, and Leo, 8, enjoyed.

Accompanying the two youngsters was their father, Ray Henry.

Providing her artistic touches was Mary Dorney, a former teacher, who also painted the faces of her three children, Zoey, Ty and Isabella, 1, 4 and 5, respectively.

Another attraction was a 32-foot game truck, courtesy of Cherie Howard, owner and operations manager of Liberty Township-based Owl House Enterprises LLC.

“It’s really a fun thing. It’s for gamers of all ages,” said Howard, referring to the self-powered, climate-controlled and limousine-style vehicle that features seven high-definition TVs and allows up to 28 players to compete against one another in more than 100 games, including Xbox 360, Xbox One, Sony PlayStation 4 and Wii.

The large, colorful vehicle, called “Video Party Express,” has surround-sound capabilities and laser lights, along with two exterior screens for up to eight additional players, she explained, adding that the game selections are continually updated.

Howard noted that since starting the business in June 2014, the vehicle has appeared at roughly 400 events, about 70 percent of which are birthday parties for children. Other gatherings include school, church and corporate events, company picnics and on behalf of nonprofit agencies, she continued.

“Our slogan is ‘We bring the party curbside,’” Howard said.

Holly Henry, the coalition’s treasurer, said she hopes to see the 6th Ward incorporate more for young people to do, which, among other things, keeps them out of trouble.

“If we keep kids occupied, they make choices that are constructive, not destructive,” she said.