ELLENTON – On September 17-18, Drug Free Manatee will host a National Youth Leadership Initiative (NYLI) for local teens from seven different high schools at DaySpring Conference Center in Ellenton.
Teens from all six public high schools and the State College of Florida Collegiate School have been invited to participate in the overnight training which will be provided by certified instructors from Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA).
At the training, the teens will identify a problem in their school that they would like to address. They will then develop an action plan around the problem, implementing their strategy throughout the school year, with the help of a faculty adviser and thus create a positive change in their school community.
Attendees will gain tools necessary to make an impact during the retreat and wiill become familiar with CADCA’s planning process.
”This is a very successful program we have implemented in the past,“ said Sharon Kramer, executive director at Drug Free Manatee. ”No one knows the obstacles students face better than the students themselves and empowering them to make a difference and change something they identify as a problem gives them the confidence to succeed in whatever they take on in the future.“
To break up the weekend, Drug Free Manatee has arranged for students to attend a special concert featuring Del Couch Music Foundation alumni and American Idol finalist Sam Woolf. Local singer/songwriter Kaitlyn Folsom with also perform and a DJ will be on hand to help the students dance the night away during a special Saturday Night Rocks event!
Drug Free Manatee will officially launch Drug Free Youth (D-Fy) during the NYLI training retreat. The new program for teens rewards them for choosing to stay away from alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs by providing them with discounts at local retailers, special events and hiring opportunities. NYLI participants will get the first opportunity to join D-FY while at the retreat.
”We are so proud of all of our amazing students in Manatee County,“ said Ally Bergmann, prevention coordinator at Drug Free Manatee. ”Providing them with opportunities to shine and to gain new skills while celebrating their choice to remain free of alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs is a privilege Drug Free Manatee is happy to have.“
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