PALMDALE –Antelope Valley youths looking to become more involved and make a difference in their community will soon have a new avenue.
The Antelope Valley Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will launch its Youth and College division in Jan. 2012.
“The NAACP’s Youth and College division has been in existence for over 70 years,” said AV NAACP President Juan Blanco. “What we’re doing is starting a Youth and College division up here in the Antelope Valley to assist young people in their goals and careers.”
The local Youth and College division is open to all Antelope Valley youths between the ages of 8 and 24. The new group will hold meetings once a month, participate in various service projects, and go on monthly field trips to destinations that teach and inspire, including museum tours, college tours, school board meetings, and city council meetings.
“This is an opportunity for youths to get involved in the community and make a difference,” said Director Waunette Cullors.
Cullors said youths will be mentored by local professionals, as well.
“If I have a kid who wants to be an engineer, I want to give him the opportunity to actually have some volunteer hours with an engineer,” said Cullors.
She says the program ultimate aims to get youths involved in civic activities, in career-minded activities, in leadership activities and in making their community a better place.
“What we would like to do is bring young folks on board with civic involvement,” says Blanco.
The AV NAACP Youth and College division will hold its first recruitment meeting from 5 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 29, at Milligan’s Family Fun Center, located at 525 West Ave P-4 in Palmdale. The recruitment meeting will follow the NAACP’s Kwanzaa celebration.
Cullors says she’s looking to recruit at least 35 youths for the new division. The group will begin holding meetings and hosting monthly activities and fields trips starting Jan. 2012
For more information or to become involved in the AV NAACP’s Youth and College division, contact Waunette Cullors at 661-224-1244, email avyouthnaacp@gmail.com, or visit av-naacp.org.
