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Seminars will be offered on drug and alcohol awareness, anger management and other topics relating to coping with everyday pressures.
By MONIQUE FIELDS
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 19, 2001
Two local chapters of Greek organizations are sponsoring a summit to help teens make right choices.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. have secured public and private grants to help sponsor Teen Summit 2001: Surviving the New Millennium. It is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 2 at the Harborview Center in downtown Clearwater.
The free program, geared to African-American and Hispanic youth, is open to all Pinellas County students enrolled in grades 6-12. Participants will receive breakfast, lunch, a commemorative T-shirt and anti-tobacco literature.
Students will attend up to seven seminars: anti-tobacco use, alcohol and drug awareness, domestic violence, anger management, effective communication, legal issues and sexual responsibility.
"We want them to know it's okay to do well whether it's academically or behaviorally," said Karalia Baldwin, a member of the summit's organizing committee.
Adults will serve as mentors "to let them know where you are now is where I was 20 years ago. If I can get on this side, you can, too," said Randy Lightfoot, president of the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter in Clearwater.
The organizations have invited members of youth groups, churches and social-service agencies to participate in the 45-minute modules. So far, 100 students have registered. The event is open to the first 1,000 applicants.
During a legal issues forum, students will hear from criminal and civil lawyers and judges who will challenge them to think about how drugs can ruin a person's life.
"Mr. (Darryl) Strawberry is a good teaching tool," said Pinellas County Judge Michael Andrews, who is coordinating the forum. He will ask young people, "If Mr. Strawberry is prepared to throw away a million dollars to take a hit, what does that mean?"
They also will be given tips on how to conduct themselves if they are stopped by a police officer.
"It's important for our kids to know how to handle themselves in the presence of police," Andrews said. "A lot of us end up talking ourselves into tickets and talking ourselves into trouble."
Registration deadline for the Teen Summit 2001: Surviving the New Millennium is May 26. For information, call 726-8222.