Youth Coalition

The local Coalition is part of the international program Youth-to-Youth, a research-based community effort that effectively encourages and supports drug-free youth. Programs stress youth community development and personal growth, and include:

• establishing clear no tobacco, alcohol or other drug policies
• teens playing key roles in program, agenda, decision-making and activities
• teens discussing alcohol, drugs, peer pressure, sexuality, suicide, etc.
• teens developing leadership skills.

To date, Coalition members have attended a leadership conference in Rhode Island, participated in a panel discussion on channel 15 explaining the Coalition’s mission and the events they’ve created that are both fun and drug free. These are regular, likeable teens. They are not unusual or “uncool.” They simply want something better for themselves. And they’ve been particularly ingenious in devising substance free events as one example of the “something better” than the growing substance abuse and addictions problem among their peers. Last August, they sponsored a pool party that drew 70 participants. They’ve held tie-dye parties and Open-Mic Nights headlined by local performer Kentavious Jones. And currently they are working to put adult responsibility messages about underage drinking on cases of beer in local stores.

The Youth Coalition is looking for new members interested in taking a leadership role in the community, especially younger members to carry the group forward. Youth ages 13 through 18 are invited to come see what the Youth Coalition is all about. If you are interested in helping to plan future youth events, please contact Gary Pearce at Talbot Partnership at 410.819.8067 or gpearce@talbotpartnership.org.

Visit The Coalition Facebook Page Youth-to-Youth International website