Beaufort County Youth Conference marks 34 years with Sept. 26 event

BEAUFORT, S.C. — The Beaufort County Youth Conference will hold its 34th annual event on Sept. 26 at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy in Beaufort, according to organizers.

Carrie Major, founder and CEO of the conference, said she started the event because the rate of teen pregnancy was increasing in Beaufort County. She said it was originally planned as a one-time event to bring young people together.

“And that has transpired to 34 years,” Major said.

Lynn Singleton, co-chair of the conference, is a former school administrator with Beaufort County School District. She said she continues to work in community events focused on students and joined Major’s organization to make a positive impact.

Students chose this year’s theme

This year’s theme is “Thrive in Real Life,” which Singleton said students chose along with all of the workshop topics. She said professionals lead each workshop area.

“And they’re the ones that chose this topic and all the workshop topics as well,” Singleton said.

Singleton said taking students out of the school setting and connecting them with professionals gives them additional resources for the future.

Youth ambassadors receive additional training in leadership, public speaking and communication skills, according to Singleton. She said the ambassadors will serve as speakers, introduce workshop presenters and appear on stage during the opening session.

Workshop topics and parent sessions

Workshop topics for students include emotions and mental health, friendship and belonging, money and resources, family and home life, school pressure and the future, and identity and confidence, organizers said.

This year, the conference will also include two sessions for parents on the same day: “Thriving Emotionally” and “Thriving Financially,” at 11 a.m. Singleton said any adult may attend the parent sessions, regardless of whether they have a child registered for the youth conference.

Registration and event details

Registration opens at 8 a.m., and the event begins at 9 a.m. at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy in Beaufort. The conference is free and open to any middle or high school student, according to organizers. Lunch and T-shirts will also be provided at no cost.

Major said the event is supported by churches, businesses, law firms, the Divine Nine and other organizations in the area. The Beaufort County Youth Conference is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

“So we know that we cannot do this alone,” Major said. “But it does take everyone to make this be successful every year.”