{"id":14155,"date":"2015-10-16T15:23:03","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T19:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=14155"},"modified":"2015-12-17T14:47:45","modified_gmt":"2015-12-17T19:47:45","slug":"utc-organizations-partner-with-community-for-youth-blast-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2015\/10\/utc-organizations-partner-with-community-for-youth-blast-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"UTC Organizations Partner with Community for Youth Blast 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Large<\/a>\u201cOn a Quest for the Best\u201d was the theme for this year\u2019s Youth Blast, a two day conference for local students grades 6-12 that encourages success in areas of academics, social interactions, and relationships. Sixteen area organizations, including UTC\u2019s Office of Equity and Diversity, Circle K, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, supported the event that provided workshops and inspiring speakers for the youth, as well as sessions for their parents, to teach them how to nurture and encourage positive relationships in their children\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Youth Blast is an example of what is possible when organizations partner\/collaborate to address needs in our community. \u00a0When I asked one youth for their thoughts about the Youth Blast, he replied that it was \u2018inspiring!\u2019 \u00a0Thanks to UTC Office of Equity and Diversity and all of the financial sponsors and sponsoring organizations who made this event possible! \u00a0Also, students from UTC who volunteered at this event,\u201d said Chris Ramsey \u201890, UTC alumnus and volunteer from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Youth Blast promotes positive relationships in area students\u2019 lives. The event housed on UTC\u2019s campus on October 2 and 3 featured workshops on safe approaches to Social Media, college, and dating values, as well as performances including a step show from UTC\u2019s Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity chapter, Lambda Iota.<\/p>\n

Jade Dodds, local attorney and event volunteer added, \u201cI was energized by the collaborative effort of the organizations who worked together to plan the event. \u00a0It just shows what happens when a community bands together for the sake of its youth!\u201d<\/p>\n