The Ocean City Housing Authority will host a Youth Empowerment Leadership Explosion (YELE) event on Saturday, May 9.
The day-long festival will be held starting at 10 a.m. in the courtyard at the Housing Authority’s Peck’s Beach Village (on Fourth Street between West and Simpson avenues).
Anybody is invited to attend the day of celebration and education to help the young people of the community. The event honors the memory of Maliha Chowdhury, an Ocean City High School student and Peck’s Beach Village resident who died tragically last December.
“What would possess a child to take her life when she had the world at her hands?” Ocean City Housing Authority Executive Director Alesia Watson said.
She said the Housing Authority planned the first-time event to remember Chowdhury and to “give our youth the tools they need to thrive.” The event will include high school students talking about body image and other issues of concern to today’s youth.
“I’m hoping we can do it every year,” Watson said.
All funds will benefit an Ocean City High School scholarship fund in Chowdhury’s name.
Entry is to the event is free, but there will be food for sale to help raise funds for the scholarship. The program is also supported by local businesses. The day will include empowerment groups and games, Watson said. Kids can bring their bikes and get free bicycle helmets as part of a bike rodeo sponsored by the Ocean City Police Department, she said.
Mychal Kendricks of the Philadelphia Eagles and William Green, a Holy Spirit High School graduate who played for the Cleveland Browns, will appear to support the cause.
The players are expected to appear sometime after noon and autographed footballs and shirts will be part of the fundraiser.
For information, call Watson at (609) 399-1062.
