Longtime educator remembered for her passion, love of family, teaching
May 1, 2019
I’m a firm believer in heart over height
May 1, 2019
Houma native Corey Harris looks around the community and sees too much untapped potential in our youth.
He’s working vehemently to change that — one day at a time.
Harris is a local motivational speaker. He’s been impacting the lives of area youth for more than 8 years — a journey that he said is among the most fulfilling things he’s done in his life.
Over the years, Harris has hosted several rallies and events designed to promote positive messages and inspiration to kids.
His latest event, The 6th Annual Empower Our Youth and Teens Extravaganza, will be held on June 8 at the New Rising Sun Baptist Church. Doors open at 1:15 p.m. and the event begins at 2.
Attendance, as always, is free, and this year’s lineup will feature guest speaker and former LSU standout Torris Bright. The Oaklawn Jr. High School Marching Band will also be in attendance, as well as appearances from Judge Juan Pickett, the Prancing Cajunettes, Traci Brown, and several other well-known local figures who inspire by doing things the right way daily.
There will also be free food and drinks at the event, which is designed for children of all grade school ages.
The motto of this year’s extravaganza is, “We’ve got work to do,” which is fitting, given the work Harris has done over the past several years to help the community’s youth.
“I just saw that there were too many kids that were not aware of the fact that they could do great and amazing things, if they would decide to change their mindsets,” Harris said when asked why he was so diligent about supporting our area’s youth. “I’ve always been very blessed to have a great support system and I understand the tremendous value of having a great support system. I wanted to be a blessing and a source of support to others and those who didn’t have strong support systems. For me, I was more concerned with making a difference, instead of making excuses.”
Harris’ work has been well-received locally.
His empowerment rallies and anti-bullying events have grown locally — often drawing hundreds of attendees at each event.
Harris’ work has also generated a reputation for himself and he’s spoken at several schools around the area (always without cost), and his powerful, motivational way of reaching youth has helped keep local children on the right path toward prominence — something that Harris said is key for the area’s sustainability.
He said that while, yes, he’s been doing this for more than eight years, he has no plans to slow down or step aside anytime in the near future.
Instead, he hopes to grow his rallies and events bigger and stronger in the future in hopes of getting more people involved.
Harris said it inspires him when someone attends one of his events, is touched by the message, then volunteers to help out — or maybe even speak — at another in the future.
“I always get great feedback,” Harris said. “People tell me to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m often reminded by adults in the community that what I’m doing is needed. … Many kids personally thank me for the messages I deliver.”
At the June event, Harris said he thinks children will be able to learn from the messages and positive energy that will be spread by those in attendance.
In a social media message promoting the event, Harris said it’s time that we take our community back and inspire a better tomorrow than we have today.
That goal, he believes, is easily able to be achieved if all people come together and work together to achieve our common goals.
“It’s time to stop programming our youth and our teens to have limited belief,” Harris said. “It’s time for us as a community to destroy our use of excuses and operate in the spirit of resilience. It’s time for us as a community to make more productive decisions. The time is now.” •
Follow Casey on Twitter for more.
https://twitter.com/casey_gisclair
