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Lafayette leaders host event aimed at empowering the youth
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)-- A powerful community event unfolded at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center as organizers, educators, and former inmates came together with a shared mission: to steer local youth away from crime and toward personal and academic success.
The event, spearheaded by Dr. Carroll Crofton, aimed to highlight the urgent need for mentorship, guidance, and safe spaces for children growing up in challenging environments.
“We wanted to impact our youth with the information that would help them to elevate themselves from one level to another,” said Dr. Crofton.
Parents and children gathered to hear personal stories of resilience and transformation. Among the speakers was Consuela Gaines, who shared her journey from incarceration to personal growth.
“I got off of that fixed mindset and realized there’s nothing impossible for me to do,” Gaines said. “I studied Office System Technology… graduated from that while incarcerated… I took welding, graduated from that while incarcerated.”
Vendors were also present, offering resources in education, mental health, and other crucial areas. The goal was to show young attendees that alternatives to crime and hardship do exist and that community support is available.
Dr. Crofton spoke candidly about the absence of father figures in many homes and how that vacuum can lead to feelings of being lost and unsupported.
“Most of the fathers are incarcerated or tangled up into drugs and alcohol, so you don’t have a man figure in the house,” Crofton said. “And the mother can’t work and also raise her children at the same time, especially a boy, he needs a man voice over him at all times.”
Shyra Breaux, another event organizer, emphasized the importance of consistent, engaging programming to keep kids inspired and connected.
“We’re going to try to meet the need and offer different programming and just events that young people can come to,” Breaux said. “They were engaged… they had a good time, and it felt like family here today.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Crofton and Breaux are already planning future events, with the next focus on back-to-school support for students this fall.
“The thing that we strive for is to be informational to this community,” Crofton said. “We didn’t have a large crowd, but our theme is: if we can reach one, teach one.”