Eastern Illinois Hosts Teen Conference on Drug, Alcohol Free Life

(Springfield, IL) – Hundreds of Illinois high school students from across the state descend on Charleston next week for a five-day conference that aims to develop leadership and advocacy skills to persuade their peers back home to embrace an alcohol, drug, and tobacco-free life.

The Springfield-based Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute (CGTI) will welcome approximately 400 participants, volunteers, and mentors at its 45thannual leadership conference at Eastern Illinois University that begins on July 19thand runs through July 25th.

“The Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute is a youth leadership conference that offers opportunities for teens around Illinois to learn about leadership, health choices, and working with others to create better communities,” said CGTI director Ashley Webb. “CGTI empowers youth with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-free life by strengthening their leadership skills to advocate for positive change within their school, community, and local government.”

Workshops on crisis response, stress management, safety and a multitude of other topics will be offered to youth and adult mentors that will enable them to become “catalysts for change” in their schools and communities, according to Webb.

Motivational speaker and author Kevin Wanzer, who co-wrote Teen Power: A Treasury of Solid Gold Advice for Today’s Teens, will be the key note speaker on Sunday, June 21.

Wanzer’s program – Choose to Act with Aloha – will highlight four simple ways people of all ages can make their lives, the lives of others, and the world a better place through small but important actions and choices every day: choose to act; choose to love; choose ohana; and choose to laugh.

“Kevin has been recognized nationally as one of the most effective and entertaining speakers to audiences of adults who work with and empower the lives of youth,” said Webb. “Kevin encourages audiences to discover their hidden passions, embrace diversity and celebrate the laughter in us all.”

The conference will also showcase a College, Career, and Resource Fair as part of the exhibitor hall.

“Our energetic young people will be an ideal audience for schools, businesses, and organizations to connect to future young professionals for the behavioral health field,” said Webb.

For more information, contact Webb at ashley@ilabh.org or 217-528-7335.

davidormsby@davidormsby.com