COAL TOWNSHIP - During her keynote speech at the Northumberland County Juvenile Court banquet, Keri Albright challenged those in attendance to be the leaders - possibly even the surrogate parents - of the troubled youth they interact with on a daily basis.
"Don't waste the opportunity to change that life in front of you," Albright said Thursday evening. "Think about your roles in today's parenting."
Albright, the president and the CEO of the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way, addressed Northumberland Juvenile Court workers, advisory board members, community leaders and others at the banquet, which was held at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center.
She kept the audience riveted, not only because of the words she spoke, but because she was speaking in a loud whisper due to the throat surgery she had to undergo four weeks ago.
As the Lewisburg native talked about her experiences working with women in Northumberland County, her words were empowering to many in attendance. She told a story about one woman who reached out to her.
"She wasn't sure if she should reach out to me on the phone, and when I called her back, I asked her why she was afraid," Albright said. "This 30-year-old woman told me her father said she was nothing but a dirty worthless piece of crap and I didn't want her to call me, that I was only being nice."
That was when Albright realized the role parenting has in molding today's youth. She said those who work in the juvenile court system have a great opportunity to be there for these kids when their own family can't.
"What an experience you are all given, to see these young lives at their worst, and then at their best," she said. "Thank you all for righting the wrongs and believing the unbelievable when it comes to these youths."
In awards presented at the banquet, Andy Charnosky was named Juvenile Court Employee of the Year, and supervisor Lisa Donlan was honored for her 20 years of service to Northumberland County Juvenile Court.
Shamokin Police Officer Nate Rhoades was named law enforcement officer of the year, and Shamokin Area teacher Matt Weller was named educator of the year.
Judy Davis administrator for the Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Services department, was presented with the Samuel C. Ranck Lifetime Achievement Award.
Theo Reynolds and Taylor Glassic were presented with $1,000 awards from the Michael Kivko Memorial Youth Scholarship, and Sunbury Mayor David Persing was presented with the Fred Piermattei Youth Service Award.