Summit benefit courts youth advocates
Inclusion magazine publisher Supha Xayprasith-Mays, who for two years has funded an empowerment summit aimed at as many as 700 enrollees of the city of Little Rock’s Summer Youth Employment Program, decided to ask others to get involved.
To raise money for the next summit, scheduled for July 12, Xayprasith-Mays and her husband, Richard Mays of Mays, Byrd & Associates, hosted two October incarnations of the Inclusion 15th Year “Get Out, Get Connected” Professional Networking Initiative. The second of the events — fundraisers for the 2018 summit — was held Oct. 21 at Chenal Country Club.
As local band Exclusive and More E&M Band played, an intimate crowd of attendees partook of hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, and listened to remarks by Xayprasith-Mays. Richard Mays, and supporters Jerry Pavlas and Wilbur Peer, each shared stories of their own career paths, lauded Xayprasith-Mays for her philanthropic efforts on behalf of youth, and urged attendees to join her in those efforts. “We have really talented children in our communities … but they need advocates. And that is what Inclusion is doing,” Peer noted.
Richard Mays also announced Inclusion’s new, 24-hour radio station, KINC, 98.1, which will deal with issues concerning youth.
The first “Get Out, Get Connected” fundraiser was Oct. 6 at The 1836 Club and was attended by nearly 80 people. Xayprasith-Mays says more sponsors are welcome for the 2018 youth summit.