Unleash Your Inner Hero:
Connecticut SADD Youth Leadership Conference
Click here to read about the conference in the Hartford Courant Cityline.
April 6, 2010
Teens from across the state come together to make positive decisions
"Tha Hip Hop Doc" Dr. Rani Whitfield addresses state-wide SADD Conference
HARTFORD -- "Don't let people around you make bad decisions for you," Orange Police Lieutenant Anthony Cuozzo told nearly 100 teenagers from 22 Connecticut schools at the second annual Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Conference Monday.
Lieutenant Cuozzo delivered the keynote address at the conference, and he stressed that the students in attendance learn from leaders both good and bad.
"It is so important for you, as young people, to understand what it takes to make good decisions," he said. "To be a real leader, it is important to get out there, and when you see someone doing the wrong thing, say something. That won't make you the most popular person at the party, but that can't matter. You still have to do the right thing."
Making informed decisions and taking control of your own destiny were recurring themes of the day, which featured five workshops and two keynote addresses. In addition to learning about alcohol and drug prevention, the attendees were able to attend panels on conflict resolution and understanding alcohol industry marketing tactics.
During the marketing tactics workshop, The Governor's Prevention Partnership Program Manager Catherine LeVasseur showed the attendees practical examples of how the messages they see on TV and even the packaging of products can be an attempt to tempt them to drink. She repeatedly flipped back and forth between the colorful, inviting packages of non-alcoholic "energy" drinks, noting their similarity to the packaging of "alcopops," which are often the first alcoholic beverage a teenager will try. "Alcopops" are sweet, flavored alcoholic beverages that mimic the characteristics of popular kids' beverages, such as lemonade.
Giving the teenagers in attendance practical strategies and helping them to make informed decisions was the mission of many of the speakers and workshop facilitators.
"It was exciting to see so many students take an active role in their communities and be so willing to help their classmates," said The Governor's Prevention Partnership President/CEO Jill K. Spineti. "Whenever I think about why we work so hard at The Governor's Prevention Partnership, it's because of kids like this. We have to do whatever we can to give them what they need to be successful."
Perhaps the highlight of the day was an energetic keynote speech by "Tha Hip Hop Doc," Dr. Rani G. Whitfield, M.D. A board-certified family physician with a Certificate of Added Qualification in sports medicine, Dr. Whitfield is an impassioned advocate for increasing youth awareness of health-related issues, including HIV/AIDS, obesity, cardiovascular disease and substance abuse. By combining hip-hop culture and health messages, Dr. Whitfield empowers individuals to change unhealthy lifestyles.
After leading the teenage attendees in a chant about owning their lives and making their own decisions, Dr. Whitfield explained that he had come to speak to the audience that day because too many young people are dying from preventable causes.
"Young people are dying from HIV, obesity, hypertension and cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in our country, though obesity will soon be taking that over," Tha Hip Hop Doc said. "When I talk to you guys, no matter what you have, your health is the most important thing you have."
Emerging Trends
presented by Catherine LeVasseur