This June marked my second consecutive year capturing the Youth Leadership Summit, and I have to say, it felt just as special as the first. When I attended last year, I walked in with no expectations and left completely blown away. I did not know what to expect from an event like this, and what I witnessed genuinely moved me. This year was different in the best possible way. I walked in with high expectations, and somehow, our incredible staff, board, volunteers, and mentors still managed to exceed every single one of them.
As I said after the event, “After experiencing my first Youth Leadership Summit last year, I went into this one expecting a transformative event for our youth. Even with the high expectations, I was blown away with the event management and professionalism of everyone involved. What an amazing experience!”
What struck me most this year was watching an entire community rally around these kids. This was not just a few days of workshops and activities. It was a full-on demonstration of what it looks like when a community decides that its young people are worth investing in. Local businesses, nonprofit partners, and individual community members all showed up. They donated snacks and drinks, blankets and gifts, and gift cards that will give these youth experiences to look forward to all summer long.
They did not just write a check and move on. They showed up. As I shared with our team, “One of the things I was most impressed with was how many local businesses and individuals donated their time and money to help make this a memorable event for the kids.”
That kind of generosity does not happen by accident. It happens because CASA has built real relationships in this community, and people trust what this organization stands for.
I also want to take a moment to talk about the people behind the scenes who make all of this possible. The entire CASA staff has hearts of gold, plain and simple. Every single person on that team showed up to this summit with energy, intention, and genuine love for these kids.
I also want to give a special shoutout to Beth McCoy, our new Executive Director, who jumped right into the summit without missing a beat. Watching her connect with the youth so naturally and authentically was something I will not forget. She did not just observe. She participated, she laughed, she listened, and she made kids feel seen. That says everything about the kind of leader she is.
On a more personal note, advocating for children has always been one of my deepest passions. When I was in college, I spent time as a preschool teacher, a path that many men would never choose to walk. But I believed then, as I do now, that so many children in our area are growing up without a consistent, positive male role model in their lives.
I do not take that lightly. I take it as a badge of honor. Being someone that a child can look up to, even in a small way, is one of the most meaningful things I can offer. That is why I will always show up for CASA and for these kids, in whatever capacity they need.
As I like to say, “CASA means so much to me! No matter what they need, I will always be there, with or without a camera in hand. They have a supporter for life in me.”
The Sixth Annual Youth Leadership Summit reminded me, once again, why this work matters so much. From the workshops and activities to the laughter and the quiet moments in between, every piece of it reflected the heart of what CASA-EP is all about. Watching these young people grow, connect, and step into their own has genuinely changed me. Working alongside this organization for the past couple of years has made my life richer in ways I did not anticipate. I am more invigorated than ever to continue pouring into CASA, and I cannot wait to see what next year brings.
