At Saturday's Latino Youth Summit, organizers hope to come up with HIV and drug abuse prevention ideas as they entertain kids.
By NATASHA DEL TORO
Published July 18, 2003
Young Latinos have a chance to voice their views about sex, drugs, violence and alcohol at the first Latino Youth Summit from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the University of Tampa.
The free forum includes presentations by community leaders, exhibits, a freestyle hip-hop contest, theater performances and prizes. More than 185 youth ages 10 to 18 have registered to attend.
"There are only so many burgers for these kids to flip. I mean, that's okay, but they need to see what their leadership potential is," said scheduled speaker Tony Morejon, Hillsborough County's Hispanic affairs liaison. "This youth summit is a good step."
The event marks the culmination of Proyecto Prevencion, a yearlong study on HIV and substance abuse and prevention among Hispanic youth by the Florida Institute for Community Studies.
Organizers plan to divide participants into small groups to talk about attitudes, behaviors and issues of concern. The information will be used to draft a plan for addressing common problems.
Alayne Unterberger, founder and executive director of FICS, organized the summit, which also will include appearances by state Rep. Bob Henriquez, D-Tampa, and Hillsborough Commissioner Kathy Castor. DJ Moyo of Moyotyme Music will serve as master of ceremonies.
In September, Unterberger received a grant from the Centers for Substance Abuse Prevention to help identify strengths and high-risk behaviors within Latin-American communities in unincorporated parts of the county. She and her staff conducted 243 surveys in Town 'N Country, Wimauma, Ruskin, Dover and Plant City.
The results confirmed her fears.
"A third of the teens surveyed don't remember getting any kind of HIV prevention or sex education at all," said Unterberger, who has received awards for her work with migrant farm workers in Wimauma and other Latino groups.
Organizers are planning a followup Latino adult summit for September.
For information about either event, call Unterberger at 477-2882 or the FICA office at 248-3427. Or visit the Web site at www.ficsinc.org
