CASA of Walker County made a splash in its inaugural “Kids Expo,” featuring more than 80 family-centered organizations, food vendors, and activities, all with a common purpose: enriching the community for youth.
The event, spearheaded by CASA Development Director Laura Green, brought out dozens of volunteers–including LEAP Ambassadors–many sponsors, and hundreds of people with the idea of learning about and promoting healthy activities for children in the Huntsville community.
The event served as an informational clearinghouse for almost every activity oriented toward children and families, ranging from organizations designed to promote child well-being to more broad-ranging organizations that make supporting children part of their overall mission. Thus, in the same large grounds, you could learn about the wonderful Boys & Girls Club and the Huntsville Public Library…
…KSAM…
…Ken Holland’s Office, with Edward Jones…
…the Huntsville Lions Club…
…the Huntsville State Park…
…the Bluebird Society…
…and the Huntsville Police Department and Fire Department…
…and more!
Beyond serving as an informational bonanza, the Expo also offered numerous fun activities…
…networking opportunities, and some interesting food options.
We, for example, had the opportunity to eat at 3 Sistas for the first time!
Moreover, each half-hour, a key organization had the chance to inform, speak to, or perform for the crowd–allowing Parks to discuss upcoming events such as the July 4th Celebration…
…Pastor Jeff Dunn…
…the Huntsville Independent School District…
…and Mayor Russell Humphrey…
…to to do a ribbon cutting…
…HISD to present some of its talented students…
…and Maggie Collum Dance company…
…to show off some of its talented students…
Adding some luster to the proceedings, Elliott Herzlich of Elliott’s Jewelers sponsored a Jewelry Design Contest, in which children can submit artwork into a competition, with the winner having their artwork handcrafted into a piece of jewelry. The contest is ongoing, with a deadline of April 30–so don’t delay.
Of course, with it being April and with it being east Texas, the weather is liable to turn on a moment’s notice, and around 1:00pm, it did just that. The rains came, and while children might be able to have fun roping bales of hay or petting goats in the rain, (most) parents are past that point in their lives.
And while we would have enjoyed hanging around a little longer to take photographs, there wasn’t much to photograph, as vendors closed their tents, children–happy children–went home, and we took our cameras to cover.
But we sought cover feeling happy, knowing that CASA, whose vision statement is to “provide a safe, nurturing home for every child,” came closer to realizing that vision today.
Many thanks to Laura Green and CASA for putting on a great event to support the children in the Huntsville community!
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 