The Simpson Youth Academy is hosting their third annual Lessons & Carols Dinner this December, inviting the public to share a great meal, meet participants, and hear reflections on Advent from the students in the group. Director of the Simpson Youth Academy Eric Rucker tells KNIA News the Simpson Youth Academy offers leadership skills for those in the group and helps teach students how to make an impact on the community.

“One of our students raised money to build handicapped accessible playground equipment in her hometown. Another student was passionate about health and nutrition so she helped design and teach nutrition classes to elementary school students. The idea is after the students come to Simpson for their time and we give them tools for social change, how do we let them go back to their communities and partner with adults there to make an actual impact and apply those social change skills they learned.”

Tickets will be sold to attend the dinner for $50 each, with all proceeds going towards the Simpson Youth Academy. For more information on purchasing a ticket, contact director Eric Rucker (eric.rucker@simpson.edu). An RSVP is asked for by November 26th.