Edison Youth Council paints and places decorated rocks to mark Black History Month

Members of the Edison Youth Council and community center staff gathered to paint and place decorated rocks on the community center lawn to mark Black History Month and to promote inclusiveness, participants said.

"It was really fun watching everyone paint their rocks and working together," said Cherish, a youth council member, describing the activity as a way to build creative teamwork among K–12 volunteers and council members. Miy, who said the rock-painting meeting was her first youth council meeting, called it "such a nice introduction" to the council.

Zach, who identified himself as a member of the Edison Youth Council, described the group's goals as outreach-focused: "Our goal is to bring diversity, inclusiveness to the whole community. We want to offer programs, help out community events..." He said the council runs activities for all ages and hopes to expand membership beyond the roughly "15–20 people" he estimated at the event.

Longtime attendee Charlene Marlo, who said she has been involved for 17 years, praised the council for giving children opportunities that lead to high-school graduation and beyond: "This group that we have here, we have so much they have so much that they want to bring to the township... they are the future." DJ and other early members said attendance and programming have grown from only a handful of participants to broader offerings, including homework help and coding classes for younger children.

Several participants noted the timing: a speaker said weather had been wet and snowy and the group wanted to place the rocks before an expected snowstorm that night. Cavanch and Juliana urged more community members to join volunteer programs, citing the council's intergenerational activities for children and seniors.

The session ended with participants moving to place the painted rocks around the center and a brief chant. Organizers said they hope the visible displays and ongoing programs will both celebrate Black History Month and draw more volunteers to the council.