This summer, middle and high schoolers throughout Fayetteville can gain life skills and boost their self-confidence through free workshops hosted by the Julia Mae Community Foundation. Parents and guardians looking to keep their children engaged and safe while school is out can register them for workshops covering diverse interests, including skin care and hygiene, trade skills and budgeting and money management.

Established in 2024, the Julia Mae Community Foundation operates with the mission of strengthening family stability and community wellness. According to Jennifer Jones, founder and president of the Foundation, the organization accomplishes this by transforming “lived experiences into opportunities that create healthier communities, stronger families and lasting generational change.”

Jones was inspired to establish the Foundation after years of working in underserved and under-resourced communities, as well as through personal experiences of succeeding despite adversity. The organization gets its name from Jones’ late grandmother, Julia Mae Torrey. “The values she demonstrated every day — compassion, integrity, perseverance and service — continue to shape our mission and inspire the work we do,” said Jones.

The Summer Youth Enrichment Workshop Series is a new addition to the roster of programs, instilling crucial skills in the next generation to promote successful futures. It was born from Jones’ desire to guide today’s adolescents through various life stages and nourish their knowledge during formative developmental periods.

“The inspiration came while I was scrolling through Facebook. I noticed adults debating something as basic as personal hygiene, each convinced they were right,” Jones said. “If we as adults cannot agree on something as fundamental as self-care, how effective are we in teaching our youth the necessities of life?”

Jones continued, “More than anything, I wanted our youth to leave knowing two things: They can trust themselves, and they have a community that believes in them.”

The series runs every Wednesday from May to August and is for youth ages 11 to 18. Weekly sessions are held at the organization’s address, at 4616 Murchison Road, and last from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., providing a convenient after-workday time for parents and guardians. Healthy refreshments, ranging from subs to fresh fruit, are provided at every meeting by generous community member Tawanda Robinson, complementing the organization’s dedication to wellness.

Previous sessions have highlighted local businesses such as 9Round Fitness and Picture Perfect Esthetics to teach young learners about healthy skin care habits, fitness and nutrition. Many have offered their services to positively impact youth, emphasizing a commitment to “community over competition,” according to Jones. “We've come together around a common purpose — to invest in the next generation. That spirit of collaboration has made the program stronger than we ever imagined.”

See what sessions are next by visiting the Foundation’s Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/juliamaecommunityfoundation.

In addition to learning from community leaders, adolescents can display their passions during Youth Skill Swap Week, another component of the workshops. 

“Throughout the summer, youth are encouraged to identify a skill, hobby, talent or experience they would like to share with their peers,” Jones said. “The goal is to provide a supportive environment where youth can experience public speaking, develop leadership skills and gain confidence by guiding others through something they know well.”

At the end of the series, each learner will earn a Certificate of Achievement for their hard work. Those who lead a session during Skill Swap Week will also be recognized as Julia Mae Community Foundation Youth Ambassadors, gaining access to future leadership opportunities and receiving a letter of recommendation.

“One of my favorite moments has been seeing youth who were reluctant to attend at first, often because a parent encouraged them to come. By the end of the workshop, they were engaged, participating and genuinely glad they came. Watching those transformations reminds us why this work matters,” said Jones.

Once summer comes to a close, the Foundation will continue the good works by transitioning the workshops into a Youth Leadership Program throughout the school year, getting local college students involved.

Register your child for the next Summer Youth Enrichment Workshop by submitting the form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6MFtNHep4DdyVOe5sfe6P-k34afIpF6vinabYB93oB5SFYg/viewform.

Anyone interested in teaching a workshop or collaborating on ongoing initiatives such as the Youth Leadership Program can reach out to the Julia Mae Community Foundation at wecare@juliamaecommunityfoundation.org or 910-502-3443.

(Photo: The Julia Mae Community Foundation has a mission of strengthening family stability and community wellness. Photos courtesy of Jennifer Jones, President and Founder of the Julia Mae Community Foundation)