Teen center begins monthly community outreach events

Palmer Munroe Teen Center kicked off its new year of My LIFE events Jan. 31. My LIFE Tallahassee is designed to entertain and inspire the community’s youth between the ages of 13 and 23 who have experienced mental health challenges, substance use, foster care and/ or other challenges.

My LIFE events are held every fourth Wednesday of the month in the Palmer Munroe Teen Center gymnasium from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

They feature inspirational speakers, entertainment, various activities, free food and information on a variety of topics such as drug abuse, bullying and professionalism.

January’s event focused on the 8 dimensions of wellness – emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual. Interactive guides were given out to youth.

Greg Dicharry, founder of My LIFE events through Magellan Complete Care, relates to the challenges that youth face, because he experienced them while growing up.

“One thing that inspire[d] me, an individual who had to go through things myself, is hearing from people that have overcame their experiences,” Dicharry said.

Corey Blue, also known as “DJ Trey Note Fyv” of Coast to Coast Mixtape DJs, was reintroduced to My LIFE at Palmer Munroe Teen Center by Lewis Thurston of Positive Generation Entertainment. He brought the tunes to the event.

“As a former foster kid I see a lot of familiar faces,” Blue said. “Whenever it comes to foster kids my services are free.’’

Kerian Cox, a Florida A&M University School of Music School graduate, presented a percussion demonstration.

“I want the youth to always believe in their dreams and never give up,” Cox said. “I am a product of this community and this is my way of giving back.”

January’s speaker Sam Carter, an employee of Carter’s Corner, is a long-time advocate for the community’s youth.  Carters Corner is an athletic and community consulting company that advocates for kids entering sports programs.

“I am one of you,” Carter said. “I came to this same center for food because we didn’t have any at home.’’

Carter said it takes sacrifice to be successful.

“I traveled two and half hours to work at four in the morning to coach for free at Troy University and went to school at night,” Carter said. “I traveled back home around 10 p.m. at night and did it again every day for a year because I knew what I wanted to do.”

Carter was no stranger to trouble growing up, so he emphasized knowing right from wrong and choosing to do right.  

“I call it ‘364,’” Carter said. “It means that all it takes is one day of the year to mess up everything that you did right the rest of the year.”

Wednesday, February 25 at 6 p.m. will be the second My LIFE meeting and it will be black history themed. Youth can expect to play black history trivia, hear from community activist and eat free pizza.