Youth In Action (YIA), a new and exciting youth project of Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Minnesota Join Together Coalition, has been teaming youth and adult activists in order to create important and necessary policy and environmental changes regarding the number one drug choice among today's youth--alcohol. Our mission is to involve young people as social and policy change agents through their active participation in community action projects.
YIA Legislative Team: The team took part in planning and designing legislative slogans and materials, including YIA's Capitol events. There were frequent visits to the State Capitol, including meeting with Legislators, testifying at committee meetings, speaking at press conferences, and engaging in media interviews for radio, television and print.
Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative (CSEC), New Beginnings, Chaska: Participants took part in MADD's statewide Red Ribbon campaign by helping to assemble and mail materials to over 4,500 Minnesota schools. CSEC is also holding an upcoming Mock Car Crash at their local community center in Chaska this summer.
Lakeville High School, Lakeville: Students visited the State Capitol on March 15th and April 15th for YIA's A Day at the Capitol. Students participated in power training and lobbying for legislative support for the Brockway Bill, a bill imposing stricter penalties on adults who provide alcohol to minors.
Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Hinckley: Students inserted posters in their school newspaper, parent newsletters and in grocery bags at a local store. These efforts addressed adult providers of alcohol and informed them of the serious consequences they may face if they provide minors with alcohol.
Rockford High School, Rockford: High school students attended local middle schools in a peer outreach campaign to encourage youth safety, sobriety, and responsibility.
St. Louis Park High School, St. Louis Park: In May of 1999 students are having Brockway Day in remembrance of 16-year-old Kevin Brockway, who died on New Year's Eve in 1997, after drinking at a party where a parent and another legal adult provided alcohol to him and other minors. Students hope to spread the message to their peers to make healthy, safe, responsible decisions. Tom Brockway, Kevin's father, will also be speaking to students as Kevin's crashed car, parked out front, displays yet another, more silent message, about the dangers of teens and alcohol.
YIA is absolutely free! Members receive numerous trainings, food, clothing, memorabilia, and transportation reimbursement. They also gain new friends and community connections, and earn recognition and respect from peers, adults and Minnesota State Legislators.
For more information or to join this new and exciting Youth In Action Project please contact Michelle Blumke at the MADD, Minnesota State Office at 651-649-0370 or 800-487-6233.