2015 FNL Youth Leadership Conference
The FNL Youth Advisory Council (YAC) began planning back in September 2014 and after six months of meetings, committee work, and organization the 12th Annual FNL Youth Leadership Conference was held on March 7, 2015 at Pacifica High School in Oxnard. With 176 middle and high school students in attendance, it was a day full of energy and excitement with over 30 youth-focused workshop presentations for the attending youth.
Professional youth motivator, Eric Rowles kicked off the day with some engaging group activities and encouraging words.
Workshop presentations by FNL participants and local youth-serving agencies allowed everyone the opportunity to gain some important knowledge to take back to their schools and communities. Workshops and presenters included:
- Bullying Awareness – FNL students from Ventura High School
- Bus of Tobacco Horrors – Ventura County Public Health, Tobacco Education and Prevention Program
- Finding Your Soundtrack – Eric Rowles, Leading to Change
- Group Challenge Extreme – FNL Alumni members
- Handling Grief and Loss During Adolescence – Camarillo Hospice Teen and Young Adult Grief Group
- Knowledge is Power, Alcohol and other Drug Awareness – PDAP of Ventura County
- Step Up Youth Panel, Life in the Foster Care System – Pacific Clinics TAY Tunnel
- The Straight Up Game Show – Straight Up Ventura County
- Time Management – FNL students from Ventura High School
- Tobacco and E-Products Focus Groups – Ventura County Office of Education, Health Programs
- What’s Up with E-Cigs? – Ventura County Public Health, Tobacco Education and Prevention Program
- What’s Your HighQ? The Truth About Marijuana – JAMS Productions
The day’s lunch was provided by a generous donation from Pizza Man Dan’s with some amazing entertainment by Sade Champagne and an awesome photo booth provided by Kandid Kiosk.
To close out the day, our youth hosts gave out some awesome prizes before our main speaker, Eric Rowles, gave a few departing words in which he challenged all of the day’s participants to go back home and advocate for positive change in their own schools and communities. A challenge readily accepted by all in attendance.
The Ventura County FNL Youth Advisory Council planned this entire conference from the ground up! This year’s YAC comprises representatives from the Ventura High School, Isbell Middle School, Haydock Middle School, and the FNL Alumni Group. It was another successful conference planned for youth, by youth! See you next year!
Special thanks again to our amazing community partners for their help and support in putting together this year’s conference!
For more information about this conference or about Friday Night Live in general, please feel free to contact us using the contact form on the right side of this page.