Annual youth event to be held at Houston Avery Park 

Local youth will have an explosive good time at the ninth annual Stomp the Yard event this Saturday at Houston Avery Park from noon until 5 p.m.

Sponsored by the Dr. Bernard Bishop Ministries, the event brings together speakers, sponsors and mentors from the community at large to invest in children.

“It’s like an education,” Event Coordinator Dr. Bernard Bishop said. “We educate and mentor empower them to seek higher callings in their personal lives and education as well as spirituality.”

In addition to various groups of speakers, musical artists including Psalmists Ruby Collins Ward and Felicia Bishop, Youth Drama Teams and Youth Praise Dancers will be performing as well.

The special guest this season is the Alabama State University Honey Bees Dance Team.

Bishop said groups will be speaking to the youth about HIV and teen pregnancy prevention, among other topics. Additionally, the health department will be on hand to give HIV tests for anybody who doesn’t know their status.

Compared to previous years, Bishop said this year’s event is geared toward pushing the youth to go to college.

Cost to attend the event is free. There will be food as well.

“This is something for all age kids,” Bishop said. “All children are welcome. We just wanted to give back to the community. God has been a blessing to us, and we felt compelled to give back and be a blessing to others.”