HOUSTON - Teens from all around the Houston area took part in Teenfest 2006 last Saturday. The event, sponsored by Community Health Choice and US Congressman Al Green (D-Tex), "took place in order to get young people more health conscious," said Green. He said that the event was created in order to promote a healthy lifestyle, and to be more educated about life in general. "Keeping it Real," the tagline of the 2006 chapter of the event, was picked because CHC, along with Congressman Green, just wants to "keep it real" in the life of young teens. "We want to help [teens] in day to day living," said Green.
Lance Jones, an event coordinator, said that Community Health Choice (CHC) and Congressman Al Green had been in the planning stage of the event for about a year. "The purpose of the event was to give support and resources to teens," Jones said. He said "the refusal to see a doctor is becoming a big problem among teens, so we want to help in promoting a healthy lifestyle."
Special guests in attendance included local area recording artist "Baby Jay," and Houston Dynamo Midfielder Aaron Lanes. "Baby Jay" and Lanes both performed and signed autographs for the youth in attendance. While Baby Jay was rapping about staying in school and off drugs, Lanes put on quite a show himself-- juggling and showing off his footballer skills for the astonished teens.
When asked what his favorite part of the event was Ivan Ramiro, 16, of Hastings High School said "The Houston Dynamo." He went on to say "The event is great, it's good for kids, and for everyone. You learn more things by seeing different organizations in the community." I bet it's nice to finally be able to put faces with names.
