MLK celebration to include mentors, meal, music, service projects

PROGRAM PLANS — The Sycamore Youth Center, 301 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, will host the MLK Youth and Children’s Celebration/Community Service Day on Jan. 16. With Bobbyjon Bauman, left, center director, are program presenters, from left, Janese Boston and JaQuan Lavender.

STEUBENVILLE — A successful master chef in Columbus, Steubenville native Janese Boston will return as the keynote speaker for the MLK Youth and Children’s Celebration/Community Service Day on Jan. 16.

The overall celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sycamore Youth Center, 301 N. Fourth St., Steubenville.

Boston, who grew up in Steubenville’s South End, will be cooking a meal for the students at the Sycamore Youth Center and will be joined by special guests JaQuan Lavender of the JaQuan Lavender Foundation: The Journey to Gold and Steve Forte of the Sycamore Corps Mentoring Program, who will be sharing brief presentations on their mentoring programs, according to Bobbyjon Bauman, center director.

Entertainment will be provided by Valley’s Got Talent overall winners Elisha Fletcher, 2014, and Lynzee Ensell, 2021, as well as CBE 180, hip hop; Gene “Minister of Truth” Shelby, hip hop; J.R. Lawrence Lewis, hip Hop; and Jasmine Wooden, mime.

Community service projects will be done at Urban Mission Ministries, the Sycamore Youth Center and Hilltop Children’s House.

Steve Forte

“Although the event is geared for kindergarten through 12th-grade students, everyone is welcome to attend,” Bauman explained.

The event, which is free of charge with no reservations necessary, is sponsored by the MLK Association, led by Jim Baber, president, and the Sycamore Youth Center.

The program schedule includes:

– 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Youth performers (rappers, dancers and mimes;

– 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Presentation by Boston;