[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]
Freedom Foundation Forms Youth Activities Planning Team
(Selma, AL—April 1, 2008) The Freedom Foundation is pleased to announce the formation of a task force charged with planning and carrying out monthly social events and service projects geared toward Selma and Dallas County youth. Freedom Foundation volunteers Sean & Tylisa Black, Barak & Cynthia Gibson, Shy Black, Katie Clark, Sophie East, Lindsay Ehlers, Amanda Farnsworth, Jarah McGowan, and Matt Wynalda make up the team.
“I'm excited to be a part of this group,” says Sean Black, who serves as mentoring coordinator for TEAM, a youth mentoring initiative of the Dallas County Children's Policy Council. “My work brings me in contact with a lot of youth in Dallas County, and I've seen many kids fall into patterns of negative behavior because they don't have anything to do. It's a privilege to be able to play a part in putting together activities to benefit the youth and the community.”
The newly formed planning team will lead an expansion in the foundation's focus on offering positive youth activities. In January, youth and adult volunteers worked with Selma's city government to tackle several clean-up projects while observing the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. The foundation put on an event in February at Playland Bowl that featured two hours of bowling, pool, pizza, and commemorative bowling pins for youth participants. The foundation hopes to build on the success of these events by offering monthly free or low-cost activities such as skating parties, sporting events, and movie nights interspersed with projects that engage youth in meaningful acts of service to their community.
“We hope these events will just continue to grow as word gets out among local youth that people from all segments of the community can come together and have a good time doing fun and productive things,” says Amanda Farnsworth, who operates the newly formed Random Acts of Theatre Company. “Our preparations for "Footloose: The Musical" have shown us how much talent and creativity there is among Dallas County's young people. My expectation is that we'll see the best come out in youth as we give them positive outlets to express themselves.”
In addition to planning events, members of the team will also be tasked with laying the groundwork for a Youth Advisory Board consisting of teen representatives from Dallas County's public and private high schools. This board will eventually assume some event planning responsibilities and will give input and feedback that will help guide future foundation projects and initiatives.
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