Tuesday, March 9, 2010

UthMpact News!

UthMpact News!

UthMpact, the youth coalition for a drug-free Polk, gathered teen members, volunteers and staff from around the county to take part in a Leadership Training Extravaganza on February 12th and 13th at the FFA Training Center in Haines City, FL.
The Leadership Training Retreat for 9th-12th grade students was offered by the UthMpact (youth impact) Coalition, in partnership with InnerAct Alliance. New members from Ridge Community High School, Haines City High School, and P.R.I.D.E., joined existing coalition members to participate in an action-packed weekend agenda that included team building activities, sharing of group concepts, and planning for the continued growth and success of the UthMpact coalition.
Facilitators for the training included nationally-known presenter, Patrick T. Grady of Today and Tomorrow Enterprises, Inc.; Phil Scarpelli of the Department of Children & Families; and Dan Geer, Safe & Drug Free Coordinator for Marion County Schools, who each shared their skills and experience and relayed invigorating messages to our community's future leaders about how to best meet future challenges for the coalition.
It was a successful retreat where new working committees were formed, valuable professional relationships were developed, and future plans were solidified to ensure a bright future ahead for UthMpact.

UthMpact is the dynamic youth coalition of teen leaders committed to helping educate and deliver key substance abuse prevention messages to teens by their peers. This energetic group has developed an anti-tobacco and underage drinking prevention program currently being piloted in 14 Polk County middle and high schools. Coalition goals for UthMpact are to provide positive community engagement; change community stereotypes about teen drug use by volunteering, informing and being educated; set examples for other teens; increase coalition membership and involvement in youth clubs in high schools; and positively encourage alcohol and tobacco prevention and cessation.

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