Residents Attend 'Healthy Neighborhoods' Conference

The Boys & Girls Club of Manassas was the place to be for nearly 270 residents who attended the City of Manassas 5^th Annual Neighborhood Conference Saturday.

The "Healthy Neighborhoods" theme brought out George Mason University, Toastmasters, the GFWC Woman’s Club of Manassas, CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) recruiters and 45 other exhibitors. Walgreens pharmacists issued more than 50 free flu shots to participants with no insurance. Certified housing counselors met with residents experiencing distress over mortgages.  Workshop presenters offer tips from volunteering and landscaping to financial stability and code enforcement.

But it was youth, and plenty of them, who energized the conference.  Teacher and Coach Mike Dufrene of Manassas City Public Schools introduced three of many students who have achieved As and Bs on their first quarter report card, thanks to the new Osbourn High School’s Freshman Academy.  During lunch, Alex Maddox, Mara Davis and Kaylin Sorto performed a “Glimpse of Manassas” with, respectively, sign language to the song “The Climb,” dancing to “Innocence” and modeling quinceanera dress and customs.  The Youth Café workshops offered them a game show, tech club, sports skills challenge, leader social hour, career launch and conversation about healthy emotions and change.

Conference highlights included a tribute to outgoing City Manager Lawrence D. Hughes and the singing of the National Anthem by recording artist and director of Project Infusion, Tina Murray.

“It was a real grassroots effort knocking on doors to get the word out about this event,” said City Neighborhood Services Manager Kisha Wilson-Sogunro.  “And it paid off.  We had a lot of first-timers, and the majority of the walk-ins were from a much more diverse audience that is more representative of the current population of Manassas.”

At day’s end a raffle drawing included 42 free turkeys from U.S. Food Service Manassas.

Glenn Vickers, Regional Director, Prince William Boys & Girls Clubs, was also pleased.  “We doubled our youth presence – fantastic.”  Many of youth also stayed to help take down tables and chairs and clean up the club, and Vickers treated them to ice cream for their efforts.