Photos by TERRI WATTS

Symmetry Care partnered with numerous local organizations to host a Black Light Dance for local middle school students. Part of Symmetry Care’s prevention program, the dance was intended to show youth that they can have fun without  using drugs and alcohol. 

On Thursday, May 28, Symmetry Care Inc. — in collaboration with Harney Partners, the Burns Paiute Tribe, and the Harney County Chamber of Commerce — sponsored a Black Light Dance for middle schoolers in Harney County.

Jason Sanchez, a coordinator at Symmetry Care Inc., attributed the dance’s success to Prevention Specialist Shannon Root’s hard work.

Root secured a venue and booked a professional disc jockey to help make the evening memorable for the middle schoolers. The Burns Paiute Tribe generously donated the use of the armory for the event, and DJ Anna (Reid) Gahley of Party of 3 donated her time and talents.

Numerous volunteers from Symmetry Care and the Burns Paiute Tribe also pitched in to help chaperone the dance. 

The dance was a project of Symmetry Care’s addictions and gambling prevention program.

“I think that our community is full of boredom for children, and because of this, a lot of the youth turn to drugs,” Sanchez said. “Our main focus from here on out is creating events like this that are open to youths in the community to help them understand that there are a lot of ways for them to have fun without drug and alcohol involvement.”

Symmetry Care only budgeted to hold one event a year. However, after the success of the Black Light Dance, they are considering expanding their offerings.

Both Sanchez and Root said they don’t want Symmetry Care’s events to be specific to any particular school. They would rather open the events to all youth within a targeted age group. 

Sanchez explained that Symmetry Care aims to bring similar-aged youth together to build friendships with peers that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet. 

“Our goal is to reach as many of the youth in the community that we can,” Sanchez said, adding that Symmetry Care is also planning events for high schoolers, but nothing is set in stone yet. 

While planning the Black Light Dance, Root said she talked to some of the clients who participate in Symmetry Care’s adult programs, and many of them indicated that they would have benefited from events like the Black Light Dance.

In the past, Symmetry Care sponsored parenting groups, teen cooking groups, and other similar activities. The organization is now looking at its budget to determine what else can be provided. Symmetry Care also received state grant funds geared toward prevention programs in the community. 

Root noted that the COVID-19 pandemic halted many of the youth activities that were being offered in the community, but now efforts are under way to resume and expand services.

Sanchez noted that it’s important for the youth of the community to see different entities working together.

“We need to unite, and we need to do things for these children because they are the next generation, and they are going to grow into what this community is going to be,” he said. 

Anyone who would like to get involved with Symmetry Care’s youth prevention programs can contact Jason Sanchez or Shannon Root at (541) 573-8376.