Most Pittsburghers have heard about the prestigious 40 Under 40 Awards. Many young people aspire to one day make that coveted list. Well, they won’t have to wait much longer to receive recognition from their peers. Young Black Motivated Kings & Queens (YBMKQ), a Pittsburgh-based organization serving children, youth, and families facing a variety of difficult situations, recently announced the 25 Under 25 Awards, which will take place as part of its 7th anniversary celebrations.
The celebrations kick off on Friday, June 23rd at 6 p.m. with a Youth Healing Experience at Petra International Ministries. Youth will participate in interactive workshops led by local and national experts, exploring topics such as mindfulness, emotional intelligence, self-care and resilience. The event is especially curated for youth aged 13-25 who seek healing, growth and a deeper understanding of themselves. On Saturday, June 24th, YBMKQ will host a Youth Healing Event at Rodef Shalom Congregation. The event will feature the 25 Under 25 awards presentation and a keynote speech delivered by Todd Galberth, a widely renowned gospel singer and worship leader from North Carolina.
“The weekend is used to provide a next level healing experience for young people that is outside a traditional setting,” said Kahlil Darden, YBMKQ founder and CEO. “Over the years we have recognized the ways in which young people heal the best and so we use this weekend to walk them through that healing journey as provide opportunities for them to feel empowered through our Empowerment Panels, Galas, and Gospel Explosion Concerts.”
The anniversary activities will close out on Sunday, June 25, 202 at the Fear is Not Your Future Youth Gospel Explosion. The concert, held at Mount Ararat Baptist Church, includes powerful performances by Todd Galberth, Jasmin Walton and Geoffrey Golden. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available on the Young Black Motivated Kings & Queens website, ybmkq.org. Proceeds will go towards the capital campaign of the Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens Community Center, currently slated to open in Penn Hills later this year.