About 300 middle and high school students from across the region will confront tough teen challenges at the annual Game of Life Youth Conference on Dec. 16-17 at Kent Commons.
The Need 4 Weed, a discussion about the impacts of teen marijuana use, is just one of the many workshop topics at the leadership conference. Distracted driving, cyber-bullying, human trafficking, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide prevention, are among the topics students will discuss during facilitated conversations with each other and area experts.
Organized by the Kent Police Youth Board, a group of diverse teens dedicated to community leadership, the event is supported by the Kent Police Department with students attending from the Kent, Auburn, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Maple Valley and Seattle School Districts.
Participating schools select 10 students to attend the conference as a team, where they use what they learn to plan and implement a project focusing on key issues pertinent to their individual schools.
Previous conference attendees say peer-to-peer education has a greater impact than adult-to-youth education. Teens connect with each other and have a stronger understanding of the issues facing their peers and themselves.
Workshop speakers include:
• Jerry Blackwell from Early Recovery Services, Lakeside-Milam Recovery Center, brings 15 years’ experience tackling drug dependency from every angle.
• Houston Kraft, an energetic speaker with a fresh, uplifting message that appeals to students and teachers across the nation.
• Eric Munson of Heidi’s Promise is a prevention/intervention specialist who promised, after his daughter’s death, to talk about dangers that can come with drug and alcohol use.
• Luis Ortega a motivational speaker who has shared his message on the power of possibility, empathy and positivity at over 200 schools, college campuses and conferences throughout the United States.
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