Bay County families & officers join together for NAACP Summer Youth Explosion

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – Even in the intense heat, Panama City families showed out at the Bay County NAACP Youth Council’s Summer Youth explosion.

The smell of burgers and dogs was in the air along with some R&B classics.

It’s the 3rd annual Bay County NAACP Youth Council Summer Youth Explosion.

The original goal of the event was to get more young people involved with the NAACP.

“Our youth council, their memberships are very low, so we wanted to do something to help them. So we sat down and talked with them and this was the event that they came up with so I’m so glad that they came up with it again. Here we are three years later and we’re still doing it,” NAACP President Dr. Rufus Wood said.

At Saturday’s event in Daffin Park, there were activities for kids like basketball and cornhole, free books donated by the public library, and food hot off the grill.

Dr. Wood says the beauty of events like this is bringing the community together and teaching the next generation about taking care of others.

“We are not independent, but rather we are interdependent. So that’s why it’s important for us to come together. We need each other. education health care, economic development, environmental justice, criminal justice. Even as young people, they are involved because we are preparing them for the future. Many of these issues will continue,” Wood said.

One of the Bay County Chapter’s youngest members says she looks forward to this event every year.

“It’s great. I love it. I love it. It’s our third annual and I love it every single time and I can’t wait till the next one,” NAACP Youth treasurer Kinlei Roulhac said.

Law enforcement also came out to show their support. Both Panama City Police Department and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. They provided most of the games and handed out some snow cones.

“Which is a great opportunity for us to be able to reach out to the community and have the children come out and play basketball through the baseball with us and did some gaming. And then we have a simulation inside that does weather simulations,” Panama City Police Department Sgt. Becky Thore said.

Seargent Thore says it’s important for kids to interact with law enforcement in a non-emergency situation.

“Kids lots of time only get to see us when we have to come out to emergencies at their apartment or something that happens at a school. And it’s more of a dramatic thing to them. Whereas they get to come out here, they get to interact with us, maybe have a snowball with us, eat some candy, throw basketballs, or whatever. It’s just a more friendly environment for them,” Sgt. Thore added.

NAACP members and attendees of the event say they’re looking forward to next year’s summer youth explosion.

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