SALT LAKE CITY — The Youth and Young Adult Office in the Diocese of Salt Lake City will host a Summer Speaker Series in the park in June. This series is replacing the Youth Leadership Weekend that has been held in Logan for many years. "Those who have attended this weekend have certainly gotten a lot out of the workshops, but by having the Summer Speaker Series, we are hoping to reach a lot more youth," said Matthew Boerke, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. "This is a different way to reach teens in junior high and high school in an atmosphere that may be more conducive for them to learn. We feel that by hosting these events in the park and in two locations, more teens will have an opportunity to participate." The first event will be June 5, in Washington Park in Parley’s Canyon. The presenters are Brooke Burns, whose topic is "Forgiveness, Hope and Reconciliation;" and Zach Hunter, who will speak on the topic "Ending Slavery, Fighting for Justice." Priests will be available to hear confessions throughout the day, and the event will end with a concert by Los Mascorros. Burns will talk about how she made some poor decisions in her life and found a true friend who helped her turn her life around and find her way back to the church, said Boerke. Hunter is a teen abolitionist who was the official teen spokesperson for the Social Justice campaign in conjunction with the movie "Amazing Grace." Becoming an abolitionist began when he was 12 years old and was studying slavery in America. He was impressed with Harriet Tubman, a former slave who helped other slaves on the Underground Railway before the Civil War. "I’m shocked that slavery still exists today," Hunter says on his website. The second event will be held June 12 at Saint Mary Parish in West Haven. Emma Sleeth will present "Live Your Faith as a Good Steward of the Earth." "She is passionate about Christian environmentalism and wants her generation to help lead the charge in caring for the planet," said Boerke. "Her faith journey began as a result of her family’s conviction to serve God by saving the planet. She has authored a book, "It’s Easy Being Green," in which she outlines the changes her family has made and shows how those principles can be applied to young adult life." The Oscar Sanchez Band will perform a concert. "We play Christian popular, classic Hispanic music with strong family values," said Sanchez, from Twin Falls, Idaho, about the band that has been together for three years. "We bring the kids closer to prayer through our music and also tell them not to be afraid to do the right things that God wants us to do, and to use our gifts and talents for the good of the Church." The presenters at each event are all under 25 years of age and are outstanding, motivated young role models who have made remarkable accomplishments in their lives, said Boerke.
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