Hillcrest HS Students Help Organize Teen Yolobe Event

Students from Hillcrest High School’s DECA Club (Distributive Education Clubs of America) and the National Honor Society students, worked closely with the “Yolobe” organization to build and facilitate a fully teen-based exposition held on April 18 at the Tinley Park Convention Center. Yolobe, “your life only better,” is a Chicago based digital start-up company whose mission is to become the standard platform for connecting teens everywhere with community, resources, and services that make their lives better.

The event was organized by teenagers and drew national and local organizations. Students from seven area high schools recruited 100 organizations including Coca-Cola, Exelon, Chase Bank, the U.S. Army and Navy, volunteers, school administrators, and community leaders to participate. The overall goal of the expo was to bridge the gap between teens and the community. Through their planning, the teens have learned about marketing, social media and event planning. They’ve also worked together to devise creative ways to boost interaction during the event.

The expo was divided into four themed “cities,” each with its own set of activities, challenges and entertainment for teenagers, and vendors to participate in: the Circus of Success, Prestige Boulevard, The “Grid” and Light Your Way. Hillcrest’s own Mr. Mike Cicirale was the Mayor of “Prestige Boulevard!”

Hillcrest Senior Khamari Robinson stated, “Building a teen expo from small ideas into an actual event was a great opportunity to further my career. It felt great to help others and better the community.“

A highlight of the event was a “Before I Die” wall, where teenagers were encouraged to write down a goal they hope to accomplish in their lifetime. “This has been a lot of work, but it’s a good experience because I want to major in business,” said Robinson.

To find out more information about Hillcrest High School’s DECA program contact Mr. Mike Cicirale at mcicirale@bhsd228.com.