In The NewsWesterly Teens To Attend MADD Leadership Conference
Originally printed in The Westerly Sun
Wednesday, July 16, 2008WESTERLY - The Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Rhode Island annual Youth Leadership Conference is back for another three-plus days of leadership training, camaraderie, education, and fun.
TeamSpirit 2008 is slated for July 28 through July 31 at Bryant University in Smithfield.
An invite-only leadership academy, three Westerly High School teens have been chosen to attend Franklin Patton, Michael Genese and Andrew Hall.
Sponsored by the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force, the teens will be part of the leadership program MADD RI created in 1991.
The first conference was held in August of that year and others have followed annually, each gaining more positive publicity for MADD RI and its youth arm.
The conference trains young leaders to demonstrate by their actions and lifestyles that safe, life-saving choices can be the norm in a very difficult environment.
"As we are every year, we're thrilled to be able to sponsor these youth leaders and hope that more kids will find out that making good choices is cool," said Mary Lou Serra, WSATF coordinator.
"What's more important than helping our kids learn that there's more to life than partying? We know kids want to have fun - and we should all be looking at options for them - but we all have to work together to keep our children safe, now more than ever."
TeamSpirit 2008 is a gathering of more than 125 high school students from across Rhode Island. Those teens are joined by 30 adult advisors and 30 alreadytrained youth leaders.
They participate in a weekend filled with workshops including 'Action Planning for Change,' 'Take Charge in your Community,' and 'Youth/Adult Partnership.' But the goal is that the training provided is brought back to each student's community.
"We're not looking for the perfect teenager," said MADD RI executive director Gabrielle M. Abbate. "We're looking for ones that will help us keep their friends safe and pave the way for safer choices in their schools and/or communities."
Please visit the MADD web site to access the latest wake-up-call national statistics.
'What's more important than helping our kids learn that there's more to life than partying?'
Mary Lou Serra, WSATF coordinator