A summit aimed at empowering young people to pursue higher education, entrepreneurship, or careers in the trades is set to take place this weekend in Jacksonville. “Teen Youth Empowerment Day,” hosted by the nonprofit Aspire Reaching Beyond the Obvious, will be held this Saturday at Northwoods Park Middle School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event is open to students in grades six through 12 and is free of charge, including lunch. Organizers said the summit aligns with their mission to mentor and motivate children.
“We are gonna teach the kids what it takes to pitch yourself,” said Tanyetta Hill, an acting board member of Aspire Reaching Beyond the Obvious. “In everything you do, you need to be able to sell yourself and why you’re the better candidate. So, after they go through this class, we’ll have a competition and they’ll win a prize.”
Nina Ellis, another acting board member, emphasized the broader goals of the event.
“And our overall goal is letting the kids in our community, or the youth in our community, to reach beyond the obvious, to go ahead and go after what they want – sky’s the limit – to go off to their full potential, no matter what that may be,” Ellis said.
In addition to the summit, the nonprofit offers an annual college tour, hosts community service projects, and provides a yearly scholarship to a deserving student.