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Empowering our community's youth
Guest column
kenneth howard pixelized
Kenneth Howard is Hinesvilles assistant city manager and director of community development. - photo by File photo

One of my great passions in life is empowering our community’s youth. I was raised to believe in the mentality that raising a child takes a village, which is why I strongly believe that as a community, it is our responsibility to be that village. In particular, in this day and age, the young men in our community need to feel that level of support.

There are young men in our community whose everyday reality is going through life without a vision for their future, not because they are not capable of leading positive lives, but because no one has ever told them that they deserve to dream and to achieve. This sobering reality is what leads me and my team in the Community Development Department at the city of Hinesville to put on the Annual Tied to Success Empowerment Conference.

This conference is for males ages 10 and up and includes inspirational speakers, breakout sessions, lunch and keynote speaker Tony Lowden, manager of the Faith and Justice Initiative within the Re-entry Services Unit of the Department of Community Supervision. Lowden was appointed to this position by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.

This year’s theme, #StayLit, will focus on how to live a winning and amazing life through exploring how you yourself are a brand. Our team of experts will explore how to clean up your social media presence, how to make your appearance make a lasting impression, the impact of your attitude and what it takes to be the best overall version of yourself.

As a prominent member of the Hinesville community, I have personally seen the impact that this empowerment conference has made in the lives of many young men and I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.

Tied to Success will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with doors opening at 9 a.m. at the Liberty County Performing Arts Center, located at 2140 E. Oglethorpe Hwy. Advanced registration is required and can be done by visiting tiedtosuccess_staylit.eventbrite.com or calling 912-876-6573. We encourage you to bring your children, nephews, friends, young men you mentor and even entire groups.

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