ODESSA, Texas — The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) hosted a presentation Thursday based on community engagement, community leadership and the future of youth in the city.
The event featured discussions with local leaders, elected officials and members of the UTPB community on public service and how to drive meaningful change.
The focus of the event was to try to get the youth to engage as they are the next generation of leaders.
College completion rates and high school graduation rates for students in the Permian Basin area are an issue for students in the area.
"Leadership is not an inherent skill, you're not necessarily born with it or without it, and so it's it's a mentoring issue. And so, I think if your kid shows aptitudes for leadership, community engagement that you have to lift those kids up and that starts when they first start school and then it really starts when they're getting close to graduation," said Christopher Stanley, associate professor of art at UTPB.
Stanley added, "educators need to engage with showing the next generation of professionals all the skills they need to become a leader in the community."