Greetings! 

In February, six Youth Action Board (YAB) teens, one alumni YAB member, and two adult staff members from the Birmingham Bloomfield Community Coalition joined thousands of other Coalition members from across the country at a national CADCA conference, in Washington DC, packed with multiple opportunities to learn the latest trends and strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally-known experts and policymakers.

CADCA - Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, is a national substance abuse prevention Coalition that provides this 4-day forum each year, bringing together more than 2,500 participants representing community anti-drug coalitions from all regions of the country, government leaders, youth, addiction treatment professionals, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals, and faith-based leaders. In addition to the forum sessions with all members from all states, the students took part in a 2-day Advanced Track workshop with youth from other communities, CADCA's NYLI - National Youth Leadership Initiative. The NYLI component helps coalitions build their capacity to foster youth leadership, advocacy and finding their voice. The training provides youth partnered with their adult advisors an opportunity to enhance and apply their community problem solving skills, with a primary focus on cultivating Youth Advocates for substance abuse prevention and other social issues their community is facing.

In their own words, here's how a few of the YAB CADCA participants summarized their experience:

Eliana Barwinski, junior, Seaholm High School, YAB Co-Vice President

My take away from CADCA is the knowledge and respect I have gained. One who goes through the training can learn and realize how important a coalition is. When we come together from around the country and form a bigger voice, it can make all the difference. Having the opportunity to meet with our Michigan State Representatives is a very cool experience. With the knowledge that I obtained at CADCA, I have the ability to continue forward with reaching out to the community and having our voice be heard.

Erin Brown, senior Seaholm High School

The National Youth Leadership Initiative was a great experience to learn in depth what steps the BBCC and YAB can do to continue our prevention programs. Working with a smaller group of coalitions from across the U.S. gave us the chance to listen to the events and drug issues they have and what they do. The training also provided for a time to share great ideas with one another. The trainers taught us extensively on what media tools we can use to advocate for the prevention ideas was some of the most valuable information they gave us.

The CADCA programs presented taught and trained us to really think on a wider perspective and at a higher level. They were organized and provided us with the information needed to understand the national social climate surrounding substance use and abuse. The diversity in presenters from scientists, journalists, and media specialists showed me how far reaching the issues have spread, where they are, and what the coalition can do to really focus attention to the issues. Some of the speakers were young adults and teenagers that have worked hard and accomplished so much in prevention. Each was passionate and inspiring. I left the meetings and presentations motivated to further our efforts to prevent substance use and abuse.

Capitol Hill day was an amazing opportunity to speak with our legislators about the specific issues our community is facing from the perspective of the teens. It was encouraging to hear that the staff members remembered the events and issues we are facing. One of the most valuable pieces of information given to us was the legislative updates and what our coalition can do with our representatives in our state. Using this information from the training, presentations, and congressional staff, I feel better informed and prepared to really focus on our issues like marijuana and underage drinking. I hope to communicate with the Michigan State legislators on the issues we are having in the hopes of gaining their support and advocacy.

The community appreciates and respects the voice of the teens, and I plan on encouraging other students to become leaders in the field of prevention and advocacy. Trainings like CADCA and Covey leadership, are great vehicles to implement what I learned and help others.

Michelle Chen, junior, International Academy, YAB Co-Vice President

I really enjoyed the CADCA Forum this year. The NYLI Advanced Training was a great workshop that extended the knowledge that I gained from my first year at CADCA. In addition, I feel that since most of the YAB members attended CADCA last year, we were able to be more productive in our Capitol Hill meetings. We were able to meet with the staff representatives that we had discussions with the previous year. We knew the basic personalities of Jackie Parker, the senior policy director on Senator Carl Levin's staff, and Gianelle Rivera, the legislative correspondent on Senator Debbie Stabenow's staff. And, we met for the first time with Jeremy Steslicki, the legislative assistant to Congressman Sander Levin. Seeing these familiar faces ready to tackle the issue of substance abuse again a year later was very encouraging. Hopefully we will be able to develop better relationships with these members of the government. One of the many great purposes of CADCA is to act as a catalyst for relationships between community coalitions and state representatives.

There are so many opportunities to take hold of and spread our message and make a difference. The CADCA conference showed me that our coalitions are vitally important to the prevention of drug abuse, the future of America lies in our hands.

Jacob Farber, junior, Detroit Country Day, YAB Co-President

This was my third CADCA experience. Each time I've attended, they figure out new ways to get the youth to address a problem in their community or how to fix it. This was the first time I participated in the advanced training, a smaller more focused group that went at faster pace....it was still a great experience that I took a lot out of.

It was through the brainstorming exercises that our group was able to consider the issue that high school students' are leaving during lunch to get high. We came up with a strategy to work with our Coalition to look at the school policies and consequences, to try to encourage a change in the off-campus rules, so there will be less people leaving to smoke. We also realized that we don't understand why places like hydro stores and smoke shops are allowed to sell paraphernalia in the community. We plan on looking into that and seeing if there's anything we can do to change the laws, because it's definitely something worth questioning.

Kendall Hitch, junior, Seaholm High School, YAB Co-President

CADCA was an amazing experience this year. It really motivated me to continue my work in preventing substance abuse. The forum delve into looking into the science of addiction in greater depth, which was extremely helpful.

The advanced NYLI was fantastic. The small group atmosphere allowed us to focus and receive more personalized assistance. Specifically, we learned how to improve our logic model, receiving feedback after an oral presentation that all the YAB's participated in. This allowed us to come together as a group and take an in-depth look at all the work we do. The advanced training also personally inspired my leadership goals. It emphasized both the power of one person to make a change and the immense impact people make when they come together for the greater good.

Capitol Hill day was a positive experience. It is an amazing representation of the power Coalitions like ours have to impact even national decisions. The chance to speak directly to those who are involved in the government and lawmaking provides an amazing opportunity for the teens to develop their speaking and community sting skills. It also shows us that, even though we may be young, our ideas are valuable and respected.

Thank you to the coalition and Kelly Michaud for making experiences like CADCA possible. The impacts are life changing.

Kaitlyn Krizanic, sophomore, U of M Dearborn

Since this was my third time going to a CADCA training, I thought I would know everything there is to know about the program, and I really went to help the students further understand the material. To my surprise, I learned so much! This forum was aimed toward leadership, putting events in action, and really emphasized that we are the future.

The Coalition helped me find my voice in high school, and these conferences just help me to maintain it. It is truly powerful to see so many people who are in support of one cause. It's hard to always see kids who drink and do drugs are in the minority when that is the only thing people talk about. This conference really shows that you are not alone. I really liked how the Michigan Coalitions made a closer bond and are now connected on legal updates and substance use and prevention issues. I hope that I will be able to pursue this more and help prevent as many kids as possible from choosing to do drugs and alcohol.

Kelsey McClear, senior, Seaholm High School

As someone who had never been to anything like this before CADCA was an AMAZING experience. There is something so powerful about having that many people who all care about Substance Abuse Prevention in one place. It really makes you realize that there are other people out there with the same goals you have. CADCA is definitely an organization that I want to stay involved with and would love to work with them someday in the future. The NYLI Advanced forums were really informative and helpful. It was nice to be in such a small, focused group. I really thought my opinions and suggestions were heard. Capitol Hill Day was another incredible experience. It really did feel like we were storming the Hill. Even though we were only able to meet with the Staff aids, they really listened and seemed genuinely interested in the cause, especially at Rep. Sander Levin's office.

As you can see, the YAB teens have a strong voice and are willing to take a stand on this issue. They volunteer countless hours to develop their advocacy.  They provide valuable input, insight and feedback on what's really happening with teens today, what they experience, how they cope with stress, social pressure, situations and influences, and how we as adults and parents can be more effective. More importantly they want YOU their parents, community leaders and key adults in their lives to be more involved in BBCC's mission.