On Friday, May 4th, a special event was held to recognize local Youth 2 Youth students who are continuing to excel in leadership roles within their own communities.
According to the YouthtoYouth.net, “Youth to Youth engages young people through meaningful activities and experiences to develop and implement their own ideas to create positive change. Our original youth-driven, adult guided programming has set the standard for youth development and prevention programming across this country and around the world.”
Youth leaders from Compass and T4C Tuscarawas County Council for Church and Community join Tuscarawas County Y2Y students in being consistently active in creating powerful prevention campaigns, participating in community events, and hosting their own to continue to spread awareness among their peers. Members of all groups were present at the event.
“It is really important for us to recognize and support the youth that are willing to take on the hard issues. These are the kids that put their action behind the talk of making a difference and it matters,” explained Tuscarawas County Health Commissioner Katie Seward.
On Friday at Ricardo’s Party Center in New Philadelphia, local leaders including Sheriff Orivs Campbell, Commissioners Kerry Metzger and Chris Abbuhl, Representative Al Landis and others offered words of appreciation and acknowledgment 40 students were honored at the event and encouraged to continue their leadership.
“The work these kids do is so important because it is the work that many do not want or feel the need to do,” added Tiffany Hunka, Prevention Educator. “The students in youth led prevention see the importance of uncomfortable topics and discuss it in a way that allows their peers to be comfortable.
Speaker Ty Sells from Youth 2 Youth International also gave a presentation on what it means to be a great leader and how to be one. Each student received Certificates of Appreciation and a gift card.
Michaela Madison Reporting
