JSU Wellness-Anniston and the Wiggins Community Center Hosts: Youth, Empowerment, Education Summit 2010
2010-07-27
On July 21, 2010, JSU Wellness-Anniston in partnership with Wiggins Community Center hosted the second annual Youth Empowerment Education Summit. The goal of this event was to provide empowerment through health and wellness education. The event was attended by well over 200 participants of whom 150 were children between the ages of 5-15 with the addition of teenager and adult volunteers.
Youth received a balloon art health and wellness presentation from Big Sam the Balloon Man who is known for his local Saturday morning kids show. Sarrell Dental Clinic was on hand to provide information about dental care, and the Calhoun County Extension office offered additional nutritional information. The activities included dance presentations, basketball shot competition for all ages, football, trivia, relays, jump rope, face painting, and tours of the Anniston Fire Departments Fire Truck and Fire House. There were prizes for all winners and special awards and recognition given to the JSU Junior Wellness Walkers participants. Certificates were given to all participants and lunch was provided by JSU Wellness-Anniston and the Wiggins Community Center.
Fred Smith, director of JSU Wellness-Anniston stated, “We are pleased with the high level of participation, which is a result and reflection of our partnerships. Programs such as this are not only fun but they provide one of the essential building blocks of empowerment, which is education." Miss Carol Bush director of the Wiggins Community Center stated, “I considered the Summit a huge success. I was not only pleased with the participation but the excitement level of both children and staff was very high. It was a great event."
JSU Wellness-Anniston would like to thank the City of Anniston’s community centers, the Boys and Girls Club, their directors, staff and volunteers for their participation. JSU Wellness-Anniston would also like to thank Balancing In Take Expenditures (BITE) Project and a grant from the Stringfellow Health Fund of the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama for their contribution to this event.
About the photo: Attendees at the Y.E.E.S. summit (courtesy photo)
