Quad Cities-For the past four decades, the Quad Cities Youth Conference has provided a two-day, bi-state conference geared towards youth in grades 7-12. With approximately five hundred students each day of the conference, the first day of the conference is geared toward middle schoolers and the second day for high schoolers. The day includes a keynote speaker, thirteen workshops, a community fair and a chance to collaborate with youth from other schools in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas.
On February 24th and 25th, the QCYC will celebrate its fortieth anniversary and Gabriella Hurtado, Chair of QCYC, is excited for the event and some added surprises for its milestone year. “At the end of last year, we knew it was coming,” said Hurtado. “And so, we wanted to do something big. In the last few years we’ve really tried to think outside of the box and see how can we have more engaging workshops and just trying to find something new.”
In addition to speakers from the Illinois State Police Department, Gray Matters Collective and the Davenport Fire Department, two big additions this year will be the keynote speaker, Landon Ballard representing the MWAH Performing Arts Troupe and feature entertainment workshop speaker Torrian Ball. “I do think that Torrian being a part of it is really big,” said Hurtado. “He’s a big name in the Quad Cities and I think when your recognized by your community, it’s a big deal. I’m also really excited to hear Landon. I think the organization he’s with, MUAH, does a lot of positive work trying to make an impact with our youth.”
As the event is only two days, planning for this conference starts in August and involves many people behind the scenes making sure everything goes off without a hitch. That is something Hurtado appreciates but knows goes unnoticed sometimes. “For me its realizing its how everything comes together with the volunteers,” explained Hurtado. “Everyone just does their part and its comes together very nice.”
After the event, the planning committee will meet and debrief a bit and then take some earned time off until August. And as leaders normally do, Hurtado is already thinking of ways to improve the event in 2026. “I would really like to get students involved in the planning of it,” said Hurtado. “I would love to see college students helping out more or more active involvement from the high school groups.”
And as the goal of this event is to motivate, educate and empower the youth of the Quad Cities, Hurtado thinks there is no better way than to be involved in the creation of the event that they and their peers will attend. “I think having that student voice is important,” said Hurtado. “I would like to see how we can incorporate them in the planning side so they really feel like they have a say in what they are spending their two days doing.”
For more information on the Quad Cities Youth Conference visit, qcyouthconference.org
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