Quiana Head says, with a laugh in her voice, that she gets to "hang out with about 70 students a week."
You can bet she's glad about this.
Head, the Greenwood woman whose job - and mission - is to help young people, wants to reach as many as possible through the nondenominational international ministry, Young Life.
A year ago, Head was working just in Tchula, her hometown, and mainly with students at S.V. Marshall high school.
Now, the ministry has expanded, and she'll have plenty to report when Young Life Delta Urban - that's the official name of the group around Greenwood - holds its second annual fund-raising banquet Thursday night at the Leflore County Civic Center. The first banquet last year raised $23,000.
Former University of Alabama All-American halfback Johnny Musso, who played for the Chicago Bears, will be Thursday night's headliner. He now owns Schreiner-Musso Trading Co. and lives in Hinsdale, Ill.
Musso will speak. There will be other presentations and entertainment, and of course, Young Life members will be there. "We will give the people a bigger picture of the ministry," Head said.
There's no charge to attend. The event starts at 6:30 p.m., and everyone's invited. Folks are asked to make reservations by calling 453-5200.
"Things are still glowing and growing, and the best is yet to come," she said.
"Young Life is definitely growing. We have started a middle school club in Tchula, which is called Wyld Life, and we have also established with some relationships with kids at Greenwood High School," Head said.
"Last school term, students from Greenwood High came to my home most Monday nights for about an hour. We will begin our weekly meetings with more Greenwood High students in January."
Also, she took group of teenagers to a Young Life Camp in Jasper, Ga., during the summer and will be taking another group of teens to a weekend camp in Eunice, La., Nov. 10-12.
In the past year, Young Life Delta Urban has established a workplace. "We are very excited about our new Young Life office at 104 Market St. in downtown Greenwood," Head said.
