Owensboro’s Teen Week returns next month, offering a whole week of activities aimed at empowering and supporting local teens. Organized by the Owensboro Youth Empowerment Summit (OYES) in collaboration with the Daviess County Public Library and the H.L. Neblett Center, the event will run from October 21 to 25 and feature a range of workshops, fairs, and discussions.
Founded in 2007 by DeMarcus Curry, OYES initially focused on addressing issues like teen pregnancy, peer pressure, education, and black history. Curry, now a pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church, wanted to create a positive space for young people to learn and grow, inspired by the mentors he had growing up.
“Life wasn’t easy, but I had role models who pushed me to dream big,” Curry said. “That’s the kind of support I want to provide for today’s youth.”
Teen Week was expanded after the success of a Teen Job Fair in 2021, which saw over 100 teens attend. This year’s event will feature a variety of workshops, including financial literacy, resume building, and bullying prevention. Employers will also be on-site to conduct interviews during the Teen Job Fair.
The week’s activities will include:
- College Fair: Colleges and universities from Kentucky and surrounding states will provide information and application guidance for high school seniors.
- Teen Financial Workshop: Open to middle and high school students, this session will teach financial basics, led by Old National Bank representative Nico Bustamante.
- Resume and Interview Workshop: Volunteers from the community will help teens prepare resumes and conduct mock interviews.
- Teen Job Fair: Local businesses will be present to discuss job openings and conduct interviews with interested teens.
- “Stop the BS” Bullying and Suicide Prevention: A speaker will address bullying and suicide prevention, and teens will have the opportunity to share personal experiences at the Neblett Center.
Flyers for the events can be found on the OYES Facebook page, and those interested in participating can contact Curry or Sarah Jacobs, the Teen Librarian at Daviess County Public Library.
For more information, email DeMarcus Curry at [email protected] or Sarah Jacobs at [email protected].
