Youth Leadership Opportunities
The SAFE Youth Activities Committee has put on seven fun, alcohol- and drug-free events for teens. Bandfest 2003, Bandfest II, Bandfest: School's Out, MiniBandfest, Bandfest '05, Mayhem Bandfest and Bandfest '06 have been great successes. A total of 4,700 persons have attended the seven events. Teens came from every high school in Chesterfield County. Many adults also volunteered at the event. The bandfests showcased the talents of teen bands.
SAFE will hold its next bandfest February 16, 2007.
To be eligible to perform at a bandfest, at least one member of the band must be a Chesterfield County high school student. Band lyrics must be free of profanity and vulgarity and must not make positive references to violence or to the use of alcohol or other drugs.
The next bandfest will be held February 16, 2007. Band auditions will be held in January (date to be determined). Teen bands who would like to audition or teens who would like to help plan the event or judge the bands should email bandfest@hotmail.com or call 796-7100.
Bandfest recently won the 2006 Youth Services Award for activities involving youth volunteers from the National Association of Counties. Only one program was selected nationally for this award.
Youth judges at auditions.
Chesterfield County high schools send teams of four students each summer to the week-long Youth Alcohol and Drug Prevention Project (YADAPP) conference at Longwood College. Students from high schools across Virginia attend the conference. They learn leadership skills, hear information about alcohol and drug issues, and develop STAN (Strategies to Act Now) plans to implement in their home schools during the upcoming school year. They also have lots of high energy fun and make many new friends.
For more information about YADAPP, visit the YADAPP website or talk to your school resource officer.
Youth at YADAPP conference.
Teams pose for a group picture , then move to board the bus taking them to the YADAPP conference.
Youth Leadership Opportunities
Membership on SAFE Board of Directors
The SAFE Board of Directors reserves several slots for teen members. Teens who serve on the Board have the opportunity to help shape the direction of the organization, provide youth perspectives on substance abuse issues, and have a variety of opportunities to serve on committees or to participate in special events. For example, three teen members attended the annual Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference in Washington, D.C. They had opportunity to meet and speak with Congressional representatives or their aides. Teens interested in serving on the board should call 796-7100 or contact frith.safe@earthlink.net.
Underage Drinking Task Force
Teens are playing a leadership role in helping to determine underage drinking patterns in Chesterfield County. They will be developing a questionnaire that they'll be giving to teens at malls, movie theaters and other places teens gather to better determine when and where teens are drinking and how they obtain alcohol. They will also be developing strategies to help address the problem of underage drinking. If a teen is interested in participating on this task force, he or she can call 796-7100 or contact frith.safe@earthlink.net.
Check out the following websites for youth:
Checkyourself.com (youth-oriented site targeting youth users or friends who are concerned about the use of a friend)
Partnership for a Drug Free America - Teens
NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse
Teen Get Going (provides assessment, treatment information, how to help a friend)