YourPassion1st in partnership with Mi Casa Holiday will host a free workforce readiness and music festival Saturday at the Kehrein Center for the Arts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event – designed to help people learn how to find and pursue their passions – will include several performances as well as workshops centered around art, music, entrepreneurship and a panel discussing mental health. There will also be food, and attendees will be entered in a raffle that will give away $100 every hour starting at 12 p.m.
“A lot of young adults are dealing with isolation, and obviously just all of the mental health challenges that can come up as being a young adult,” said Chris Thomas, founder and chairman of YourPassion1st. “Even as we get into our older years, the one thing that I feel can really kind of help people get through that is defining what they’re passionate about, whether you’re making money on it or just doing it as a hobby.”
“[This is] an opportunity for young adults that may be challenged to try to figure out where their place is in this world … and most importantly get resources that can help them attain whatever it is they’re trying to do.”
YourPassion1st is an international coaching and mentor program, and Mi Casa Holiday is a travel and music boutique events service. Saturday’s event will also showcase projects from their Young Ambassadors International program, a seven-month series of collaborative workshops and project-based learning exercises for young adults ages 14-24 in Chicago, Brazil and South Africa.
“We’re really trying to spread the word on global connection. We have communities here, but we can also connect our communities with other communities,” Thomas said.
“The more we can find people’s passion and help people cultivate and follow that, I think we can alleviate probably our top two statistics around young adults. Number one, most young adults are killed by either accident or homicide, and then number two is suicide.”
Thomas hopes that coming to this event is just the beginning of young adults getting connected to resources and safe spaces that can transform their lives.