Collins Career Center hosts inaugural block party

In an effort to spread community outreach and inform the public about its programs, Collins Career Center hosted its first block party Monday evening at the Ironton Farmers Market.

The event featured live music, free food, informational tables and inflatables for the children.

“We’ve been planning this for a couple months. We’ve not done a block party before, but we’ve done other community outreach events,” Michael Gleichauf, Collins Career Center program assistant, said. “We just want to get them to learn more about the career center.”

The band “Sheldon Road,” of Wheelersburg, provided tunes throughout the evening and numerous tables were set up for Collins Career Center including financial aid, admissions and various Collins Career Center programs such as adult cosmetology, its STEM Academy, surgical technology, respiratory therapy and more. A few local businesses had tables set up as well.

“This is our first block party, but it’s something we’d love to do every year,” Gleichauf said. “We’d love to move it around each year, but keep it in Lawrence County.”