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WHAT’S IN A LEADER
D rug Free Collier and Mothers Against Drunk DrivingKEYNOTE SPEAKER JEFF BECKER MOTIVATING STUDENTS
are beaming with pride after witnessing dozens of local PRHS PARTICIPANTS AT YOUTH JAM ‘ 16
teens rally around the prevention of underage drinking. great giveaways, skill building was never more fun for this group of
Students from eight different middle and high schools teens.”
throughout Collier County recently came together for
Youth Jam ‘16, an inaugural Youth Leadership Conference that “Collaborating with Drug Free Collier on the first annual Youth
featured innovative ways to help teens navigate the crucial teen Jam Leadership Conference is proof that working together can provide
years by making positive, healthy choices. a richer experience and more in-depth prevention message to youth
and the community,” said Lori Burke, MADD Southwest Florida
The one-day event included stand-out presentations with Program Director.
leading individuals such as Jeff Becker, Andrew Miranti, Dr.
Stephen Stohler and Tasheekia Perry. The engaging sessions “By providing our teens with positive opportunities like these, we
allowed students to reflect on the importance of having purpose are helping to set them up for success,” Black added. “We are proud
in their lives and showed young participants how to build to have partnered with so many dedicated individuals on this new
relational bridges that promote healthy self-esteem, productivity campaign. We understand that today’s teens face all sorts of challenges
and accountability. and we want them to know that they are not alone.”
As keynote presenter, Becker, a Southwest Florida school Drug Free Collier remains committed to protecting children from
counselor and motivational speaker was able to connect with substance abuse through ongoing community collaborations like
the teens through his sense of humor and positive energy. He Youth Jam and other campaigns that engage our youth. The event was
shared his personal journey and struggles as a youth and showed spearheaded by Drug Free Collier’s coordinator of our school-based
teens that it’s important not to allow others to put labels on you. prevention clubs known as the CORE Society. Participation was open
to CORE students and other interested students. Local businesses such
Miranti and Stohler, both with Healthways’ Blue Zones as B-103,The Dock at Crayton Cove, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Chipotle
Project, also led students through a creative exercise to help Mexican Grill, Sweet Tomatoes, Olive Garden, Goldies Restaurant,
them find purpose. Finding one’s purpose can be the antidote Publix, Sam’s Club, Coastal Beverage and Trader Joe’s were among the
to the emptiness that so many experience today, they explained. partners who made this event possible.
The training concluded with Perry helping students realize
that they each have the power to take a stand. Students were As part of this event, students also received valuable resources
reminded that by being leaders, they are part of the solution to to remind them about the life-saving lessons they learned at this
preventing underage drinking in our community. conference. Important information on teen drinking is outlined in
MADD’s Power of YOU(th) program that was distributed to each
Throughout the conference, students also enjoyed a variety participant.
of activities. “We received great feedback from everyone,”
said Melanie Black, Executive Director of Drug Free Collier. For copies of this booklet and other resources to help prevent
“Thanks to interactive games, a live DJ, photo booth, food and underage drinking, contact Lori.Burke@MADD.org at Mothers
Against Drunk Driving or Drug Free Collier at info@drugfreecollier.
org.
Established in 2005,Drug Free Collier is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit
working to save and change young lives. Visit www.DrugFreeCollier.
org to find out how you can help or call 239.377.0535.
96 Life in Naples | March 2016
