Click here to make a donation to the MyC3 fund to help 12 local youth attend an important leadership conference.

By Jill Neptune, TME

Local teens known as MyC3 (Mountain Youth Can Change Communities) have been invited for the fifth straight year to present a workshop at the annual Leaders in Life Youth Conference on March 15 in Bakersfield.

More than 2,000 teens from schools throughout California are expected to attend the
event at Rabobank Convention Center.

MyC3 is the youth alliance sponsored by the local Mountain Communities Coalition Against Substance Abuse (McCASA). The coalition has secured two five-year federal grants to combat underage drug and alcohol use in the Mountain Communities.

The “How You Turn Out When You Turn Up” workshop teaches about the effects of drugs and alcohol on young people’s developing brains. MyC3 also teaches how to maintain resilience against peer pressure.

McCASA Coordinator Lisa Walter is proud of the MyC3 youths’ track record in being able to contribute to teens’ dialogue about these challenges.

The March 15 conference will also offer education and career-planning workshops, offer tips on healthy ways to manage stress, brainstorm ways to deal with bullying and give guidance in applying to colleges.

Last month MyC3 members Trinity Ash, Everett Ludwig, Noah Tatum, Sarah Matte and
Angel Steere practiced their presentation skills when they visited Mrs. Carlson’s 4th grade class at Frazier Park Elementary School.

MyC3 youth created a “personal portrait” of each fourth grader by asking them questions about their daily activities. “Many of the boys in the class were very interested in video games,” Walter said.

During their next visit, MyC3 will help the students start thinking about their future, to explore what they want to do in life and to think about ways they can reach for their goals.

Striving to better their own futures, 12 MyC3 students are currently raising funds to attend the three-day California Association of Student Councils (CASC) Leadership Conference from July 30 to August 2 at the University of California in Santa Barbara (UCSB).

They will learn how to conduct their own youth meetings, plan events, resolve conflict, brainstorm ideas, set personal goals and give back to their communities. The cost for each student to attend is $650.

To donate to the fund to help 12 local youth attend this event, click the MyC3 Leadership Conference hot link on the front page of www.mountainenterprise.com.

Photo captions:

(In photos above) MyC3 members are working with Frazier Park School 4th grade students to help them begin developing personal goals.

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This is part of the April 20, 2018 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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