ST. LANDRY PARISH YOUTH BLAST EVENT

OPELOUSAS— The St. Landry Parish Children and Youth Services (CYS) Planning Board wil
host the 2022 St. Landry Parish Youth BLAST (Boldly Living As Smart Teens) event to be held
Friday, September 16, 2022 at Our Savior’s Church (202 Our Savior’s Church Blvd.) in
Opelousas, LA from 9:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. The St. Landry Parish School District has sanctioned
and approved this event that targets 100% (approximately 900 students) of all 7th graders in St.
Landry Parish Schools – public and charter. This parish-wide event is a collaborative effort with
approximately 25 other non-profit organizations, state agencies, local municipal governments, and
businesses.
The Youth BLAST event brings together music, drama, humor and inspiring speakers to help teens
make positive healthy choices. Organizers believe the upbeat atmosphere of this event is an
effective means
➢To educate teens about the importance of good mental health
➢To provide a neutral platform for open dialogue among teens and service providers
➢To assist teens in making healthy life choices
➢To promote sexual abstinence by presenting current information regarding sexually
transmitted infections (STI’s) and their impact on teens
➢To prevent teen HIV/STD transmission, pregnancy, school drop-out, violence, substance
abuse and tobacco, and suicide
“This year’s event marks the ninth consecutive year of partnering with the St. Landry Parish School
District to continue this event that now targets seventh grade students. The original event,
established in 2001 as a “Rally”, was known as the “Back-to-School Summit” that targeted eighth
grade students. Now, we are hoping to impact a younger audience with the same messages and
program package but focusing more on available services that address adolescent developmental
needs”, says Dale Fontenot, Coalition Coordinator for the STL PROUD Coalition and its parent
body, the St. Landry CYS Planning Board. The BLAST has been scheduled close to the beginning
of the school year to encourage students to make the type of positive choices that will produce a
positive and productive school year.
With funding from the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health, the CYS
Planning Board is collaborating with the Acadiana Area Human Services District through the
Louisiana Partnerships for Success grant to implement the St. Landry (STL) PROUD Coalition
which addresses underage drinking.
Featured speakers and presenters for the event include nationally known motivational speakers such
as Rani “Tha Hip Hop Doc” Whitfield, MD, Fox Rich of the Amazon Prime Movie, “Time”, Byron
Starks – Champions International and inaugural Head Coach of LSU Eunice’s Men’s Basketball,
and JiggAeorobics – a fitness and entertainment sensation. .