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Gary Youth Services Bureau to Help Remove Graffiti, Hosts Rally and Empowerment Conference

city of gary sealSince his appointment as Gary Youth Services Bureau (YSB) Director this past spring, Patrick Barry has hit the ground running. He is seeking to take the department and activities for Gary youth to another level. Listed below are a host of upcoming activities:

Youth for Change Rally – Saturday, July 27
In March of 2013, recent high school graduate David King launched a Youth Movement for Change which included a city-wide Youth March for Change. This marked the beginning of a youth-led movement to actualize young people’s vision to see a stronger, safer, more united Gary. King has since teamed up with the City of Gary’s Youth Services Bureau to expand the movement to include a citywide Youth Rally for Change, which will be held Saturday July 27, 2013, from 11a to 1p at Indiana University Northwest, Savannah Center, 3400 Broadway Gary, Indiana.

Youth Empowerment Conference – July 29 – Aug. 2
Youth Empowerment Week takes place Monday, July 29 – Friday, August 2, 10a – 2p daily at Indiana University Northwest- Savannah Center, 3400 Broadway Gary, Indiana. FREE FOOD will be served each day courtesy of the Youth Services Bureau’s Summer Food Service Program. The entire community is invited to come on out and support young people as they create solutions to help build a better Gary. For more information or to register, contact Youth Service Bureau Director Ken Patrick Barry at (219) 881-5270.

Youth Service Learning Project: Graffiti Removal – Aug. 7
On Wednesday August 7, 2013, the Gary Youth Service Bureau is endeavoring to mobilize 100 youth to take the first step in the Mayor’s vision to remove all of the city’s graffiti. Recently, Freeman-Wilson met with the Gary Youth Leadership Council and challenged them to develop a strategy for the removal of graffiti as a part of the mayor’s long term plan to eliminate the violence in Gary.

To aid in this effort, Barry is looking to recruit 100 youth who have a desire to be a part of transforming the city to take part in this youth led effort. Youth will remove and paint over graffiti in the first targeted area which located along Broadway from 6th Ave. to 21st.

Students who participate will receive a T-shirt, a certificate of participation and be awarded service learning hours to fulfill school requirements.

This service learning activity will be the official kick-off of the Gary Youth Services Bureau’s “TEAM S.T.E.E.L.” (Service, Training, Engagement and Experiential Learning). This group is open to young people middle school to college age and will meet monthly to participate in training and experience based service learning activities. Youth who participate on this team will learn about relevant issues in the city, have a direct impact on addressing those issues, develop a sense of community pride and feel more equipped, empowered and engaged in helping to build a better Gary for themselves, their families and the future.

To register youth to participate please visit the Gary Youth Services Bureau located at 839 Broadway, Suite S202 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. For more information contact the Youth Service Bureau at (219) 881-5270 or email garyysb@gmail.com.