Celebrate Life Today at South Cobb Rec Event

Polly Coleman has seen it all, when it comes to teens. She works in a juvenile detention center and volunteers for local organizations and shelters dedicated to serving young people who are homeless and have lost their ways.

Driven by a deep-seated need to help them learn to create better lives for themselves regardless of where they started, Coleman often finds herself mentoring these young people. It’s this need that drove her to create today’s event,

“I want to let them know that we’re here for them,” Coleman told South Cobb Patch. “They go through so many things.”

The event begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m. at the It’s free to all children, grades sixth through 12th, and their parents.

Coleman decided to let other teens and young people tell their stories about enduring peer pressure, teen pregnancy, dropping out of high school, sex trafficking, substance abuse and underage drinking, relationship abuse and much more.

“I want youth to learn to support each other. I want them to understand the meaning of giving back,” Coleman said.

Besides having young people tell their own stories, there will be poetry, dance, music, drama and more.

Style Success Fashion consulting company will help the teens understand what it takes to make it professionally from work ethics to professional attire.

For 47-year-old Coleman, this is one of the biggest issues she stresses to the young people she encounters.

No one has taught them how to dress for the professional world, so Coleman does.

“I want to show them, ‘I need you. Ms. Coleman needs you.’ I think if I groom them now, they can have that for the future… If we keep on working with these children, we have a better chance at having a better generation coming up.”

Coleman was able to find a handful of organizations to help support the event today, but most of the costs are coming out of her pocket, she said.

It’s usually this way, she explained, but it does not deter her from continuing to reach out to the next generation.

“My goal Saturday is to let the children know about organizations that can help them. It’s just my passion. It’s just in me.”