![]() ![]() The group was started to help attract at-risk youth, build relationships and connect them to mentors to help them discover their own gifts and talents and then encourage them to follow their dreams, and it was a way to help meet the needs of teens in doing that. ![]() ![]() We had that space for a little while and hosted a few events there like laser tag during that Christmas break and things like that, and we also had games available like checkers and chess and a PlayStation and card games, really just games and things like that for the kids to do and we had anywhere from 20 to 60 kids in that space on the days we were open. “With those types of situations happening, I realized kids needed a hangout and needed something social so in 2015, the group got started and we started out in a space at the mall (which we've since left), we had it rent free and only had to pay for our utilities and the main requirement was for us to not tear everything up. “As my kids were growing up, we would go out to eat after church and I started noticing there were times where there were kids who didn't really have money, so they were left out or if they did go out, they bummed money from their friends or just sat there at the table as everyone else ate and had fun,” Barnett said. The Liberal Youth Hangout is a non-profit mentoring organization and its origins, according to founder Cory Barnett, were inspired by his own children as they were growing up. Many young people take part in mentorship programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters and similar programs, and in Liberal, one of the major mentorship groups is the Liberal Youth Hangout. The group has been a Liberal staple for several years, and coordinator Cory Barnett said he enjoys working with all the youth participants. The Liberal Youth Hangout members work the cotton candy stand at a past event. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |