Locals and Houston County NAACP to host youth event this weekend 

WARNER ROBINS — The Houston County NAACP will host a youth event in the community, aiming to empower and motivate the younger generation to become future leaders. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m at Memorial Park.

Terrance Gardner said he got the idea to host the youth event after Qwamaine Lewis, 18, was shot and killed on South Houston Lake Road in July, and other youth-related incidents in the county. 

“I reached out to Mr. [Jonathan] Johnson, President of the [Houston County] NAACP and eventually Dr. [Rutha] Jackson and I started sharing our thoughts about what’s going on in our community,” Gardner said. “We collaborated with this and figured out a way to make this happen.”

Being from the area, Gardner said he knows kids who have lost their lives, the parents of those kids and those responsible for the incidents. 

“It’s a senseless act for us as adults in this community to just sit back and watch them not trying to do something to try and help them,” he said.

When Gardner was a youth, he said he had similar feelings of youth today and mentioned that more respect was given towards parents back then. In today’s society, that is not the case, he said.

“Nowadays, there is just a lack of respect and morals, and it just seems like there is no adult support to try and push them in the [right] direction,” he said. 

The event will feature public speakers from diverse backgrounds. Youth Advisor for the Houston County NAACP, Dr. Rutha Jackson, said having that diversity of speakers is always a good thing. Some speakers at the event include members of the Houston County NAACP, Head Investigator for the City of Centerville, Lawerence Spurgeon and Warner Robins High School Basketball Coach Jamal Garman.

“We know that if whatever has happened or whatever these people have been involved in, they were able to rise up from it and move forward,” she said. “Surely, they would be good examples for the young people to look at and see that they have overcome adversity and you can, too, without doing something against the law.”

Gardner will be introducing the speakers. He said the only thing he will speak on is encouraging the youth to listen. 

“We have you here, and the only thing I ask is if someone is up here speaking, they are here for you, so please give them attention and just listen,” he said. “Listening is the key. If you’re not listening, then you’re not learning.”  

Jackson also reached out to the Houston County School District and got them on board for this event, which was of high importance to Gardner. 

“We’re in school season and they are seeing these kids every day and dealing with these things every day,” he said. “This is not going to be an overnight heal, but it’s a step forward because we’re all involved one way or another.” 

Jackson shared that other people in the community need to engage with the youth and be concerned about their well-being. 

“They are willing to utilize their resources, so that these young people will be helped in some way,” she said. 

Jackson will also be one of the guest speakers and will pray for the youth; however, she said it is not just a prayer. 

“I hope it will have some impact from a spiritual standpoint, so that the young people will be engaged to know that God sees, knows and is providing resources for them to make better choices,” she said. 

The overall goal of the event is to reach as many youths in the community as possible. 

“There are people out here that do care about your well-being because nobody wants to pick up the paper and read that somebody’s baby had been killed out here in the streets,” Gardner said. 

Jackson hopes the event will have a positive impact on troubled youth. 

“We are providing a platform for these young people to know that you are not alone, and we are here for you, care about you and if you need something, we’re here. These are the faces as we’re making ourselves known to you,” she said. “We will do all we can to help your situation.” 

Gardner hopes to have this type of event annually. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to enjoy free food, music, and unity.