Mary
Nelson
started organizing
the
Back-to-School
Barbeque
five
years
ago
as
part
of
an
effort
to
reduce
violence
in
her
neighborhood.
Besides
the
school
supplies,
she
treated
children
and
their
families
to
a
barbeque,
which
consisted
of
all
condiments
you
would
have
for
a
barbeque.
Mary
stated
that
she
woke
up
one
morning
and
decided
that
she
wanted
to
do
something
about
the
violence
affecting
children
in
the
community.
In
2002,
the
first
year
the
event
was
held
we
had
in
attendance
850
youths
and
their
parents,
Each
and
every
year
thereafter
the
event
has
grown
in
record
numbers.
This
year,
we
had
over
6000
youth
and
their
families
attend.
As
you
know,
our
youth
look
to
us
a
role
models.
I
feel
this
support
should
start
from
the
home.
You
may
think
they
are
not
paying
attention,
but
they
do
model
our
behavior.
Therefore,
my
goal
is
to
help
our
youth
understand
the
importance
of
a
good
education.
June 12, 2008
I would
like to take this moment
to personally invite you
to attend our 7th
Annual Youth Day
Barbecue. It
will take place
on Saturday,
August 9, 2008
from 11am to 6
pm. Once again
it is my intent
to reach out to
our youth here
and everywhere.
I want to let
them know that
there is an
alternative to
**violence**. It
is my sincerest
hope that this
event will show
our youth that
as a community
we all stand
strong to our
commitment of
support for
them.
So many
of you from everywhere
gave the previous years
events so much love and
support and I know that
we all can do the same
again this year. I have
been exploring a lot of
ideas that will make our
7th annual Youth Day a
bigger success.
I am
hopeful that we can come
together as a community
and help me make this
day happen once again. I
am asking this great
request because I know a
lot of our youth look at
us as role models in
this society. We may
never know to what
extent we are being
watched but our youth
learn from modeled
behavior. I am calling
on all our community to
be a part of this event.
Lets show our youth the
support they need to see
from us as adults and
also as concerned
parents.
My goal
is to get our youth to
understand the
importance of a good
education. A lot of our
youth say to themselves
“ What do I need to go
to school for?” To me,
that is where the parent
should step in and guide
them in the right
direction. Many of our
youth do not have the
parental support at
home. So to me, that
support then needs to
come from the community.
We can do that by
providing each student
with not only the
utensils they need for
school but also the
support and
encouragement.
I have
made a commitment each
and every year to have
this event. However, I
do need all of your help
to make this happen. I
have so much gratitude
for the support that I
have received from the
public and local
politicians in the City
of Syracuse, and we have
also this year received
National Attention from
the Regis and Kelly
Show, which was aired on
May, 9th,
2008 on ABC
Television, if
you would like
to view the
segment , please
visit our
website at
www.youthdaybarbecue.com.
Each and every
year the event
has grown in
record numbers,
just to see our
young
generation, and
their parents
having a great
time, eating,
showing us their
talent that many
of our youths
have, and
leaving that day
with backpacks
full of school
supplies just
brings a joy to
my heart that is
indescribable.
Each and
every year, we have had
a Youth
Parade,
which begins our
Youth Day BBQ.
We are looking
for
participation
from our
community to
help us make
another
successful year.
In
closing, I am hopeful
that you may consider
this open invitation and
be apart of this event.
I am looking forward to
this day once again and
many more days like this
where we all can get
together in peace and
harmony. If
you are unable
to accept my
invitation, I am
looking for
donations of
school supplies
to fill the
school bags for
all ages from
preschool to
college.
Donations of
paper,
notebooks,
pencils,
erasers,
folders, and
binders etc. are
greatly
appreciated.
Food donations
are greatly
needed as well
** Please no
monetary
donations**
Sincerely,
Mary A
Nelson
