Local Youth Workers Honored

Area youth workers received a big “thank you” Wednesday afternoon.

Mayor Ted Ellis and staff from the Wells County Youth Service Bureau, Family Centered Services, thanked area youth workers with coffee and cookies at the Mayor’s office. This followed a Proclamation by Mayor Ellis naming November 10, 2010 as ‘Thank a Youth Worker Day” in Bluffton.

In November communities, organizations, and caring people from around the globe join together for an international day of celebrating and honoring youth workers. Governments are making official proclamations, networks and organizations are holding celebrations, and leaders and other individuals are taking time out to call, write and personally say “thank you” to youth workers who are such a valuable and often unsung force in their communities.

According to the National Collaboration for Youth, a youth worker is an individual who works with or on behalf of youth to facilitate their personal, social and educational development and enable them to gain a voice, influence and place in society as they make the transition from dependence to independence.

“Everyone can point to a youth worker who had an impact in their life, formally as part of a youth serving organization or informally as a coach, mentor, or friend,” stated Brian Durand, 2010 co-chairman of the Thank a Youth Worker steering committee.

“We need to thank those who mentor our youth and celebrate their contributions to our communities.” he said.