Twenty-Eight Teens seem very inviting 

   This column came about by invitation only. 

   I was at Wal-Mart waiting to have fabric measured so I could teach my granddaughters Kaylynne and Brittany how to make Barbie clothes. Several young ladies were ahead of me, mixing and matching fabrics and figuring how much they’d need to design clothes for themselves. We hit it off during a great conversation about the creative process of fashion design. I soon learned they attended a summer camp called Twenty-Eight Teens that met every day at Grace Heritage Christian Academy in Mountain Park. 

   “Why don’t you come visit us?” asked Stephanie Carter, whose mother, Helen Carter, teaches the fashion design class. 

   “I’d love to,” I said. 

   Then one of the girls noticed we were all buying purple cloth. 

   “We must all be living in the spirit of Lydia,” I said. 

   They furrowed their brows. 

   “You know, Lydia. In the time of Christ, way back before women’s liberation, she owned her own business and made purple cloth. And she lived her faith by inviting people into her home. You’re all sewing with purple cloth, and you just invited me to come see you. Sounds like a Lydia thing to me.” 

   When I visited them, I realized Twenty-Eight Teens is more than just arts and crafts. This nonprofit, nondenominational faith-based program reinforces the importance of self and prepares girls for the challenges of peer pressure and peer conflict. 

   Founder Tenia Crank-Walters said: “I have a 13-year- old daughter and realized that summer camps stop at age 12. I wanted something positive for girls her age. We brought in a youth pastor and social workers. We provide mental and physical stimulation from certified instructors. We also do workshops at group homes on peer pressure and abuse prevention.” 

   Kay Nacto, a sophomore at Philadelphia Academy, loves the African and liturgical dancing. Kristin Lide, a Shiloh Middle School student, enjoys learning sign language. 

   The girls give as well as receive. Maria Jinks, a freshman at Grayson High School, teaches self-defense to her peers. 

   The girls also do community service by working with children at a daycare center and by raising money for the Amber Fund in memory of Kristin’s sister, who passed away last year when she was a sophomore at South Gwinnett High School. The money will be used to pay tuition for girls who cannot afford camp. 

   “She loved life, and this is a good way to keep her spirit alive,” said her mother, Cheryl Lide. 

   “We’re doing a skit for our final program and I’m writing the script,” Kay said. 

   “It’s a coming of age story about a young girl.” 

   “Will you come?” asked Maria. 

   “Since you’ve invited me, I’ll be there,” I said. “And I’ll wear purple.” 

   For more information on Twenty-Eight Teens or the Amber Fund, e-mail twentyeightteens@yahoo.com. 


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