CHILDREN’S DAY EVENT SET — At left, James Baber, left, president of the Martin Luther King Association in Steubenville, along with Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center, have teamed to bring a special Youth and Children’s Day event to the Steubenville area on Jan. 17. At right, Bauman joins the day’s guest speaker, Nickayla Wiggins, a news achor and reporter with WTOV-TV. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Sycamore Youth Center, in partnership with the Martin Luther King Association of Steubenville, will host a Youth and Children’s Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 17 at the Sycamore center.

The MLK Association is run under the leadership of its president, James Baber.

Activities have been designed to inspire and encourage youth throughout the area, offering music, faith, service and positive role models, according to Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of Sycamore.

The Youth and Children’s Day will be open to the public, with programming geared toward school-aged children. Children are welcome to participate in the various offerings held throughout the day.

A special highlight of the event will be guest speaker Nickayla Wiggins, a weekend news anchor and reporter with WTOV-TV. Wiggins said she is excited for the opportunity to speak to the young people of Steubenville, and looks forward to sharing her personal story of faith, as well as her career journey in broadcast journalism.

Wiggins’ message will touch on King’s influence in her life and on her professional path, as well.

Bauman stated Wiggins joined WTOV after working as a producer at WJW-TV and WOIO-TV in Cleveland. A graduate of Cleveland State University, she gained national media experience through internships with the “Today Show” and with CNN’s “Don Lemon Tonight.”

Wiggins is known for her community involvement, including volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

She is a graduate of Riverside High School in Painesville.

The program will feature youth entertainment and performances from 11 a.m. to noon, along with Wiggins’ message.

Performers will include Elisha Fletcher, the winner of Valley’s Got Talent 2014; Gene “Minister of Truth” Shelby, a hip-hop artist from Pittsburgh; Lawrence Lewis Jr., a hip-hop artist from Steubenville; the Mighty Disciples; My Team; and the Next Level Community Choir.

A free luncheon will be provided by the Sycamore Youth Center from noon to 1 p.m. The afternoon will conclude with a community service project led by the staff at the Sycamore Youth Center from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will assemble food bags for children in need throughout the Steubenville area.

“The goal of Youth and Children’s Day is to uplift young people and show them that they are valued and have a purpose,” Bauman said. “By combining faith, music, service and encouragement, we hope this event leaves a lasting impact on the lives of our children.”

Programming will be geared toward children in kindergarten through 12th grade, although everyone in the community is welcome to attend, Bauman concluded.