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'Be the Change'
(http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/335385,5_1_WA11_YOUTH_S1.article)

April 11, 2007

By JUDY MASTERSON JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM

MUNDELEIN -- The power of youth to bring positive change to their communities was recognized and encouraged Tuesday as middle school students from around Lake County gathered for a Youth Empowerment Summit.

Organized by the Lake County After School Coalition, the summit titled "Be the Change!" drew 131 seventh- and eighth-graders from schools and youth groups to the Crown Plaza Hotel in Mundelein, where they explored issues important to teens including self image, drug abuse prevention and relationships.

Discussion groups and activities were led by a combination of adults and teen facilitators -- 25 high school students, some of whom also helped plan the event. Motivational speaker Kevin Wanzer, who also led some activities, challenged students to ask "Who is left behind and forgotten."

"Every kid wants to be drug free," Wanzer said. "The bottom line is we are all role models to other people in this world."

Sara Bassett, a student at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Mundelein, said she hoped to use the experience to help kids who are struggling.

"We should get more involved in things that happen outside school," Bassett said. "Kids who get into drugs and alcohol -- it usually starts at home. We need to stop it there."

Bassett said she may push for a place in her school where kids "who have some issues could go and talk.

"It's easier to talk to people who are going through the same thing," she said.

Frank Esparza, an eighth-grader at Neal Math and Science Academy in North Chicago, said the summit inspired him to reach out to younger kids.

"I'm going to talk to them on my own time and tell them what I've learned about alcohol and drugs," he said.

Rudy Dell, a student leader from Lake Forest High School, would like to change the way students at his school relate to each other.

"At Lake Forest, there are so many different cliques," he said. "I want to see barriers broken down."

Karina Vazquez of Waukegan High School wants to find a way to motivate kids to do community service and also to allow more kids in her community the opportunity to participate in athletics and after-school programs.

"Kids need to be involved. We need stuff to do," she said.

Organizer Sharon Sanders-Funnye of the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County said young people can be a font of ideas if adults take the time to listen.

"Kids think out of the box," she said. "They tend to think much more broadly. They have more freedom to express themselves. We hope this summit is the beginning of great things for these young people.

"This is a critical age," said Pat Garrity, with the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center. "These students are on the verge of a whole new world -- high school. They need to treasure what they have, who they are, and share that with other people."

Another benefit of the summit was the convergence of students of different ethnicities, cultures and economic means.

"Leaders have to bring other people from other places into focus," said Jimmy Luster, a teacher at Miguel Juarez Middle School in Waukegan, as she watched an activity titled "Fruit Salad" in which students were intentionally mixed with others they did not know. "Kids want to relate to others, and it starts with us relating to them. They're telling us they need us to listen. I'm learning to listen more."