Youth and Adult Partnerships: RnD Associates’ Event Inspires Baltimore’s Youth

Baltimore, Maryland – On October 20, 2023, the Lord Baltimore Hotel played host to the eagerly anticipated Youth and Adult Partnerships Conference to Promote Youth Health and Wellness. Co-organized by Community Law in Action (CLIA), HeartSmiles, Excellence and Ambition, Epic Universe Arts, and New Song Community Learning Center, this event was a resounding success, bringing together a diverse array of voices and perspectives to empower and uplift Baltimore’s youth.

A Day of Collaboration and Empowerment

The conference commenced at 9:30 am with sign-in and a vibrant Resource Fair featuring various vendors. The event kicked off at 10 am with a warm welcome from Rebkha Atnafou-Boyer, MPH, representing RnD Associates, and Shirley Rivers from the Baltimore City Health Department.

One of the most captivating segments was the Youth Adult Partnerships Panel, which featured representation from Baltimore youth including Tael’a Hughes from RnD Associates, Tyler Broady from CLIA, and Don McLain from HeartSmiles. This panel broke down the importance, challenges, opportunities, and best practices of youth-adult partnerships. What made this segment particularly special was the participation of youth joining via Zoom from various African countries, including Liberia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Niger, and Ghana. Their insights provided a global perspective on the challenges and opportunities that youth face.

An Educational and Entertaining Agenda

The conference featured a dynamic mix of workshops and activities, with a strong emphasis on health and wellness:

1. STD Prevention and Social Justice: HeartSmiles and the Violet Project led a workshop on sexually transmitted infections and prevention. Another workshop focused on social justice, policy, advocacy, and political representation.
2. Healthy Relationships and Dating Violence: Turnaround, Inc, and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine tackled the important topics of healthy relationships and dating violence prevention.
3. Mental Health and Wellness: The Black Mental Health Alliance presented a workshop on mental health and wellness, emphasizing its critical role in youth well-being.
4. Faith and Sexual Health: RnD Associates and bestselling author Danelle Pinder conducted a workshop on promoting healthy relationships and sexual health in Black churches. It was split into two parts, providing an in-depth overview and discernment.
5. Financial Empowerment: Youth were encouraged to explore financial empowerment in a workshop led by Lamontre Randall from Kioba Business Ventures and Dione Bowen from Epic Universe Art.

The event also highlighted sessions on literacy for healing, drumming, meditation, cultural awareness, job preparedness, and business building, with a strong emphasis on empowering youth to take control of their futures.

A Showcase of Talent and Entrepreneurship

The conference featured a delightful lunch and talent show, hosted by Jamye Wooten, CEO of CLLCTIVLY. The talent show allowed the youth to showcase their remarkable skills, from singing to dancing and poetry.

The Resource Fair was teeming with vibrant entrepreneurs and youth vendors, offering a range of products, from hair care items to self-care packages, art pieces, and more. The attendees also had the opportunity to engage with exhibitors and explore the various services available in the community.

The day ended on a high note with awards for talents, raffle items, and an evaluation of the conference’s impact.

A Resounding Success

The Youth and Adult Partnerships Conference exceeded expectations, not only in terms of the knowledge shared but also in creating a platform for collaboration and empowerment. The organizers and participants alike showed their dedication to nurturing Baltimore’s youth and forging meaningful connections.

For those who missed this year’s event, mark your calendars for the next Youth and Adult Partnerships Conference, where even more knowledge, collaboration, and inspiration are sure to flourish.