The Turnt Up Block Party was a vibrant celebration held at Shaw Millennium Park, filled with youth speakers, entertainment, an all-styles dance competition and much more.
Spark your passion for change! was the motto for the event and that’s what I’ll also try to do here even if you didn’t go.
You can also check out Lauren’s post for her perspective, as she was part of the committee who helped to set up this event: https://youthareawesome.com/youth-centrals-turnt-up-block-party/
Here’s my experience while I was there, along with lots of photos that I took!
Youth Speakers
Four bright young individuals were invited onstage to share their personal stories and trust me, they were nothing short of inspirational.
Sarthak has dedicated over two years doing graduate-level research in stem cells, and guess what? He’s just a high school student! His love for neurobiology has led him to work side-by-side with other professionals within the field. Furthermore, he volunteers frequently with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, where he has been volunteering with the same patient for over two years. With his research, he hopes to use stem cells as a regenerative agent to treat conditions like MS. Combining his passion with an important cause, Sarthak is truly an amazing individual.
Sheliza told the story of how her 12-year-old birthday disaster had actually changed her life for the better. She had an allergic reaction to the cake, which ruined what was supposed to be a day of celebration. However, it only after this that she realized that she was lucky to have a birthday at all. There were many children out there who have never even experienced a birthday party, so she founded Children’s Birthday Miracles. This non-profit organization gives the less fortunate a chance to have a birthday, complete with cake, food and entertainment. Sheliza shows us how we can take any negative event and turn it into something positive.
Rebecca recalls who inspires her the most: Craig and Marc Kielberger. At the age of 12, these brothers rallied their classmates in response to the death of child activist, Iqbal Misah, who was killed for fighting against child labor. This sparked the creation of Free the Children, an organization that helps nations worldwide break the cycle of poverty. After hearing their stories, Rebecca was inspired to give back to her community by being a part of her school’s Right to Learn Club, which raised money to provide education to students in India. She is also actively involved with various Youth Central committees. These are just a few things that makes her a globally-minded and compassionate citizen.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it to Nazifa’s speech, but this wasn’t my first time hearing about her. In a previous article I’ve written, I highlight how she was awarded a Leader of Tomorrow Award for her outstanding contributions. You can find the article here: https://youthareawesome.com/celebrating-volunteerism-in-calgary/
Entertainment
Many local artists and dance groups came to pump up the crowd. Those not pictured:
All-Styles Dance Competition
Eight pairs of youth and adults have been invited to battle it out in an all-styles dance competition. The winning team gets a donation to the local charity that they’re representing. In the end, team “WHAAAAT!” brought home the prize for Kids Up Front Calgary. Here’s a look into the intense battling.
Community
This was an event that really brought the community together.
It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of organizations like The Calgary Bridge Foundation, Calgary Economic Development and X92.9 Calgary’s Alternative. Thank you to Carnivals for Kids at Heart, who provided giant bouncy houses that were fit for adults to play in (finally!) Several food trucks were there, including Fiasco Gelato, Spud Mobeel and BentoBurrito.
A number of local agencies set up booths to promote what they do, they included: Calgary Public Library, Distress Centre Calgary, GlobalFest, Heritage Park, Telus Spark, Freed Artist Society, Salvation Army and the Youth Employment Centre.
Last but not least, a big shout out to all the Youth Central volunteers and staff who worked hard to make this event happen. It’s through your commitment that made this such a success and sparking my passion for change.
I’m going to end off with some pictures that show the love and energy at the event.
You can find more awesome photos from Glen Co Photography here: Turnt Up Block Party
