With a vision for community support geared towards young people and a message of hope and love, the first annual “Year of the Youth” community festival was held on Saturday, November 8^th, at McKinney Park, 801 Bloxam Avenue, Clermont.

The idea was born by Clermont native Robin Brown after a conversation with her minister, Bishop Sean Johnson, regarding the welfare of youth in the Lincoln Park community. The idea soon grew into a plan that included organizers Sharon Keys, Clermont Mayor Tim Murry and other leaders in the community.

“We have a concern for the youth in the Lincoln Park community. We want to put an emphasis on love for children. We want to provide a fun and free day for them to come together. Come together as a city,” says Robin. Robin’s sentiments were echoed by Sharon Keys, a well-known advocate of youth and family needs in the South Lake community. “We have concerns about the youth in the Lincoln Park community and the city of Clermont as a whole. We just want to bring together our community in unity and peace. This is the year for youth to let them show themselves and let them know that we love them,” says Sharon.

A keynote speaker at the event, Devin Jarrett, delivered a powerful message to the audience regarding his troubled past and his path that led to incarceration. Devin, at the young age of 16, was arrested and convicted of 1^st degree murder and armed robbery with a firearm. Sentenced to two life sentences for the crimes, Devin served 31 years of his sentence in a state prison.

Devin is quick to give the victim’s family credit for his release from prison. “The family gave me a second chance. God himself gave me a second chance, and I plan to make the best of that opportunity,” says Devin. Admitting to the audience that his love of the streets at a young age led to his demise, he encouraged the youth in attendance to make positive goals for themselves and not let life’s negative events influence their decisions in a bad way.

Released only 7 months ago, Devin has wasted no time in establishing ministries that work with at-risk children and teen groups. He also speaks with teenagers in Lake County’s “Teen Court” program. Teen Court is a diversionary program established within the Lake County judicial branch, including the Lake-Marion branch of the State Attorney’s Office, that is designed for first time juvenile offenders. “I do my best to prevent others from making the same mistakes that I made,” says Devin.

The festival included a basketball tournament that provided gift cards as trophies for the winners and volleyball matches for fun. The teams were cheered on by the South Lake High School Eagles cheerleaders.

Several non-profit organizations and health organizations were onsite to provide free information regarding health, food insecurities, homelessness assistance and youth related programs in the area. Both the Clermont Police and Fire Departments were available for crime prevention tips, community policing conversations and fire engine tours.  

A special thank you by the festival organizers went out to Walmart of Clermont who not only provided all the free food, snacks, fresh fruit and drinks for the program but also provided the staff to grill the delicious hamburgers, hotdogs and barbeque ribs for the guests.

The coalition of community leaders hope to make the festival an annual event with the anticipation of growth and situations that growth can often bring to a community.

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