Building Our Future by Supporting Our Youth

Building Our Future by Supporting Our Youth
 

Shannon L. Harris, Program Coordinator

616.456-3558; [email protected]

KidSpeak® Candidly about Alcohol and Drugs

The Grand Rapids Mayor's Youth Council with Our Community's Children and Michigan's
Children presents KidSpeak 2012: Above the Influence on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 10:00
a.m. to noon at the Devos Place Convention Center. KidSpeak® is an annual youth forum that
gives young people in kindergarten through 12th-grade the opportunity to testify in front of their
legislators, school officials and community leaders. Over 20 young people will address the role
parents, legislators, teachers and the community should play helping youth stay above the
influence of alcohol, drugs and other destructive decisions. KidSpeak® this year is part of the
Live Out Live Youth Summit.

Confirmed listening panelists include: Jordan Bush from U.S. Representative Justin
Amash’s Office; State Representatives Brandon Dillon, Roy Schmidt, and Ken Yonker;
State Senator Dave Hildenbrand; County Commissioner Carol Hennessy; Mayor
Heartwell; City Commissioners Elias Lumpkins, Ruth Kelly and Walt Gutowski; City
Manager Greg Sundstrom; GRPS School Board Members Senita Lenear, Mauren Slade,
Dr. Wendy Falb, and Jane Gietzen; and representatives from the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy.

“It’s important for us to have many different things were passionate about and it’s up to us to not
only be positive role models, but to surround ourselves with positive people. To all the adults,
you are our role models. It’s important for you to carry yourselves with the knowledge that you’re
the source from which we gain our values. You can help us to stay above the influence,” said
James Sloan, Mayor’s Youth Council member and 11th-grade student at Ottawa Hills High
School.

“KidSpeak® is the perfect venue for young people to feel safe in expressing their thoughts and
opinions to adults who make decisions on their behalf. It’s powerful to see our assembled
listening panel take notes, then take action,” said Shannon L. Harris, Our Community’s Children
Program Coordinator.

For more information contact, Shannon L. Harris, Program Coordinator, in Our Community’s
Children at 616.456.3558 or [email protected].

The Mayor's Youth Council is a program sponsored by Our Community’s Children, a
public/private partnership between the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Public Schools and
community partners.