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Students Kick-off 2008-2009 School Year at National Leadership Summit |
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Great food, great fun, and great friends set the stage for a fantastic National Healthy Marriage Youth Leadership Summit conference in Washington, DC. Approximately 100 Diamond Girl and Best Men leadership students kicked off the 2008-2009 school year at the fourth annual Leadership Summit. Held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on September 5-7, the event attracted program participants from Clay County, KY; Charlotte, NC; Newark, NJ; Milwaukee, WI; and Washington, DC. During the opening session, Rashida Jolley, vocalist, harpist, and Miss District of Columbia 2000, wowed the audience by performing one of her signature songs. Physician, author, and CEO of Worth The Wait LLC, Dr. Lindsey Marsh actively engaged and challenged the students during her “10 Choices to Keep You Out of Trouble” presentation as she stressed the importance of exercising self control and avoiding negative peer pressure. On Saturday, students, coordinators and chaperones attended breakout sessions on curriculum topics targeting HIV/AIDS/STDs, alcohol abuse, dating violence, and healthy relationships. The Saturday luncheon, panel discussion, and “Make Music Not Madness” performance dazzled students and distinguished guests alike. Sharon Clark, renowned jazz singer performed “Blue Skies” and “Wonderful World” with members of the Diamond Girl Leadership Jazz Choir. College Council member and former Best Men and Best Men Leadership student Kyle Mimms gave a personal testimony regarding the positive impact of Best Men mentors in his own life, and introduced Elayne Bennett, BF President and Founder, who served as panel emcee. The expert panel included Carol Platt Leibau, author of “Prude: How the Sex Obsessed Culture Damages Girls”; Dr. Curtis Adams, author and psychiatrist; Judge Reggie Walton, U.S. District Judge, District of Columbia; Judge Anita Josey-Herring, Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; Seth Leibsohn, Producer/Director of Research “Morning in America” radio talk show and Claremont Institute Fellow, Gerren Price, Office of the Chancellor, DCPS; Mark Johnson, President and CEO of Johnson Network LLC; Tracie Ransom, attorney and Best Friends Foundation Board Member and former Best Friend and Diamond Girl; and Rashida Jolley, Miss District of Columbia 2000. Based on their own personal experiences and professional expertise, each panelist brought a unique perspective on youth risk behaviors and the importance of good decision-making. Following the panel, students from all participating sites performed in the “Make Music Not Madness” production. Combining upbeat music, colorful costumes, and precision choreography, the energizing and inspiring performance featured entertainment by the Diamond Girl Leadership Jazz Choir, the Performance Dance Troupe, the Best Men and Diamond Girl Leadership Step Teams, and a skit by comedian Tommy Taylor and McKinley Tech Diamond Girl Shalone Stephens. The Newark, NY Diamond Girls performed the Diamond Girl Theme Song. Making their debut were the “Best Friends Logo Girls”. Ms. Rita Burns, Best Friends Fitness and Health program manager, literally brought the Best Friends logo to life by outfitting Diamond Girls in the BF logo “signature” clothing, positioning them against the familiar heart backdrop, and incorporating the “Generation Excellent” script.Diamond Girl students were excited about the Logo Girls and expressed interest in becoming a part of this creative endeavor to communicate the BF message. Rashida Jolley played the harp and sang her rendition of the Alicia Keyes’ song “No One”. Jolley was later surprised to be called front and center once again as the 2008 recipient of the C. Delores Tucker Award for Excellence in Music, presented by former award winner and Diamond Girl Leadership Choir Director Robin Williams. The program concluded with a dance solo by Performance Dance Troupe member Jamila Lee, and an electrifying impromptu duet by Jolley and Williams that brought the audience to their feet. The conference evaluation results indicated that more than 93% of Diamond Girls and Best Men Leadership students believe that their experience at the Youth Summit has strengthened their leadership abilities and equipped them to return to their communities with renewed commitment and confidence to make healthy decisions. According to Kyle Witty, Milwaukee Program Coordinator, one of the greatest benefits is that “students realize they are not along in their struggle to avoid high risk behaviors that could hinder their future”. One student summed up the weekend saying, “The Summit is a life-changing experience.” We thank all participants, coordinators, chaperones, and guests who attended and look forward to an exciting 2009 event!
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