Back-to-school block party brings community together
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STEUBENVILLE -- Wednesday's Back-to-School Block Party gave area families an opportunity to prepare for the new school year while connecting with organizations that offer resources and services throughout the community.
Presented by the Sycamore Youth Center and the Aim Women's Center, the event was held at the corner of North and Fifth streets and featured live entertainment, food, outdoor games, school supplies, a performance by the Steubenville Big Red Marching Band and information tables from numerous local nonprofits.
"I think an event like this is the foundation of the community," said Beth Rupert-Warren, coordinator for the Jefferson County Resource Network. "You see everybody coming together, and this gives an opportunity to learn what the resources are and to help our kids get ready to go back to school."
Rupert-Warren said the event also provides an opportunity for local agencies to build relationships with one another.
"You can see all of the kids here having fun, and there are activities," she added. "There are a lot of people here. You might have a booth next to someone, and the next thing you know, you might have a working relationship with them. It’s really exciting to see how our community comes together and brings out so many positive feelings."
The lot where the party was held sits between the Sycamore and Aim centers. According to Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Center, the organizations' proximity has helped them work together.
"We’re ministry neighbors across the street," Bauman said. "Rather than just trying to do everything ourselves, there’s a kind of synergy when you work with somebody. When you have more partners working together, you can get more done."
Bauman said he and Rebekah Cohen Morris, executive director of Aim, have been holding quarterly block parties for about two years. Because of the timing of this quarter's event, they were able to make it a back-to-school celebration.
"I think this event gets us ready for school, but it also brings the community in," said Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons, adding that Sycamore and Aim work hard for the region.
"They are two of the best organizations," he said. "These two get it done. You can see that by all of the lives they touch. It’s pretty special."
The nonprofits participating represented a broad cross-section of local agencies, including the Jefferson County General Health District.
"These events, the back-to-school bashes, seem to be popping up more and more frequently," said Andrew Henry, the county's health commissioner. "I think they are a great opportunity for the community to get supplies so the kids are equipped to go back to school, but also to see the other resources that are available to them. And it’s not just stuff for kids -- there’s stuff for adults, too. It’s great, being able to serve everyone."
Among those attending was Ilynn Wright, a fourth-grader who said she was ready to return to the classroom.
"The event’s really fun. We’re getting a lot of stuff," she said.
Entertainment included performances by young people who have participated in events at the Sycamore Center. The lineup included JR Lawrence Lewis, Evan Conn, Elisha Fletcher, Aaron Ashby, Tajhai Jett-Burton, Lynzee Ensell, Dalana Bove, Lydia Battistel, the Next Level Community Youth Group Mime Team and the Next Level Community Youth Group Choir.
"We’ve given kids the opportunity to share their gifts and talents with the larger community," Bauman said. "That’s another piece of what the Sycamore Center is all about."
Bauman said events such as Wednesday's party help children know that the community wants them to succeed.
"We know that it becomes a challenge at the start of the school year for a lot of children to get their school supplies and their backpacks," he said. "We want to supply the needs of the kids, but we also want to show the kids that they are loved and that the community cares about them. So, we pulled this together to give kids an opportunity not only to get physical needs met, but also the general spiritual needs of knowing somebody in our community actually cares about you and we want to give back to you."
Henry agreed that message is important.
"It gives them an opportunity to know that the community cares about them and wants them to succeed," he said. "So, whether they have the financial resources or not to get ready for the school year, they can rest assured knowing that the community will be there to provide for them."
Rupert-Warren said the event demonstrated the importance of bringing different parts of the community together.
"This is great for the kids," she said. "It’s so important for the kids to see that they have a community that cares about them and is here for them. There are so many facets to it that it’s great -- you see churches, nonprofits and businesses. You know, it’s just great."