Press Release  Annual STRIVE Youth Leadership Conference is Thursday

PITTSFIELD — Nineteen public and private Berkshire County middle schools will send students to the Berkshire Plaza Hotel (West Street), in Pittsfield, on Thursday, April 12^th.  

The annual STRIVE (Students Teaching Respect Integrity Values and Equality) Youth Leadership Conference, which is hosted by the District Attorney’s Office Youth Advisory Board, will run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. 

The day-long conference is created by the high school Youth Advisory Board to educate their younger peers on social issues impacting teens.  Featured presentations include:

• Embracing Diversity  – Keynote address presented by Emma Lenski
• Dynamic Influence – Robert Hackenson uses magic and illusions to educate students on social media dangers, what to look for, and how to post responsibly.
• Five Simple Guidelines – Rebecca White shares her personal story of surviving a drunk driving crash that killed her mother and her friend and offers students five keys to living life with courage and positivity.
• A World of Opportunities Awaits You – District Attorney’s Youth Advisory Board leads discussion on navigating the transition from middle school to high school.
• Managing Stress Through Music and Movement  – Berkshire Pulse leads workshop on healthy ways to manage stress.
• Running on E – Improbable Players of Watertown, Massachusetts, present educational theater for substance abuse prevention featuring scenes dealing with drinking/drug use and addiction. 
• Student Reflections – Youth Advisory Board leads an interactive discussion with students on the powerful messages of the day. 

For more information on the conference contact Carol Mulcahy, Director of Community Outreach and Education for the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, at (413) 443-5951.        

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