CASPER, Wyoming (Wyoming News Now) – Following the tragic end of the 2023-24 school year in Natrona County that left two teenagers senselessly lost their lives, community members gathered for a celebration of hope.

The Blue Heart Collaborative hosted a “Weekend of Life” to commemorate Bobby Maher Jr. And Lene’a brownto refresh the mindset of the youth before the new school year begins on August 26th.

DC Martinez is a YMCA athletic director, former youth pastor and founder of the Blue Heart Collaborative. He says, “We want to start working on events and things right before school starts so we can change the mentality and everything they expect at the end of the school year.”

The Weekend of Life kicked off on Friday with a 3-on-3 Buckets for Bobby basketball tournament, bringing together over a hundred people and putting Blue Heart’s mission of showing youth that they stand behind the community into action.

Martinez says, “We can start right now by showing them our love and showing them that their community is behind them. And we can create different things for them to participate in so they have these expanded events and spaces to go to when they sometimes don’t feel safe at home or at school.”

The celebration continued on Saturday when Lene’a Brown was honored with a skate and dance party at the Link, a youth gathering place in downtown Casper.

Angel Ingwerson was one of Lene’a’s best friends. She is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of Casper’s young people.

She explains, “Her father taught me to be strong for everyone else, and that’s what I try to do. To do that and bring the community together for her is just incredible.”

The link is run by Youth for Christ Casper. The goal is to create an atmosphere of love and support.

Stephanie Wendling is the director of ministry at Link. She says, “When you think about the tragedies that happened in our communities last year and the fact that children just didn’t feel safe… It’s a disgrace and a real tragedy. This place is really just there to keep children safe.”

As we begin the new school year, it is important for teens to recognize their support systems and available resources.

The Blue Heart Collaborative partners with the Link team to provide young people with free meals, positive role models, and a space they can call their own.

Wendling explains: “I hope the next generation knows that they are not an inconvenience, that they are not unpleasant, that they are not unwanted. But that they are our future, without them we have no chance. We love them and we want them to feel safe.”

The goal of the Weekend of Life is precisely to give students the skills they need to be successful throughout the school year and beyond.

Abagail Gough prepares for her first day of eighth grade at CY Middle School. She says, “This weekend has really boosted my confidence going into school.”

Like Abagail, the “weekend of life” gave many students optimism for the new school year.

On the third and final day, people gathered at David Street Station for an evening of worship, all working toward the goal of building a strong foundation for the youth to rely on.

Martinez took the stage to tell the crowd, “That’s what this is about. We’re bringing the community together in hope, our youth in hope, just before the school year begins. We’re bringing everyone to understand that this community loves one another, that Christ is constantly at work right now, working in this community, bringing this community together to be an example to many other communities in our state and across the United States.”

Kim Walker Smith performed for hundreds of people from all walks of life in a night of singing, dancing and networking.

Teri Rabun, a former teacher from Douglas, came to show her support and gave the students some advice.

She encourages young people: “Just stay positive. If you feel anxious or anything else, talk to someone. Tell everyone, get help. Just be kind, be kind to each other.”

For more information about the Blue Heart Collaborative, please visit: Here.

NATRONA COUNTY RESOURCES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR YOUTH:

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