Speak Hard 2013
Mark you calendars! The 9th annual Speak Hard Youth Conference will be on March 27, 2013.
We’ll return to the Capitol Plaza for a morning of learning and sharing, followed by an afternoon trip to the Capitol to meet with legislators.
Get all program and sponsor info here!
What to look forward to this year:
- Harriet Turk will be serving as our opening keynote presenter at this year’s conference! She has worked as a probation officer, youth programs coordinator, flight attendant, pharmaceutical sales representative, college professor, nationally known professional speaker, trainer, and consultant. Her program will highlight the value and necessity of youth leadership and the personal power each of us have to be in charge of the choices as well as the challenges that many youth face including coping with failure and consequences that cannot always be foreseen. Students will leave her presentation ready to “take charge” of their life and energized to make a difference!
- Harriet will also be leading a featured breakout session, Are you Dying for a Drink?, which will cover the topic of drinking and driving as well as seatbelt usage and distractions. Students will learn to “party with style” and walk away from this presentation with confidence to make the right decisions when it comes to underage drinking.
- CADCA’s Sue Thau will give our closing keynote presentation. Sue experience on Capitol Hill and serving as a substance abuse prevention advocate makes her the perfect candidate to prepare our youth for the most important part of their day – Visiting with their lawmakers! Sue will define and encourage advocacy as she reminds youth just how important their voice is, whether it’s at home in their community or in the Capitol.
Speak Hard will also be featuring breakouts sessions lead by some of Missouri’s finest speakers! Check out the titles below:
- Above the Influence – How to Get Your School Youth Involved – MYAA’s Youth Ambassadors
- Alcohol Now and Later – Jenny Armbruster & Julie Hook, NCADA St. Louis
- Bullying Prevention and Awareness – MYAA’s Youth Ambassadors
- Value of Youth Leadership Spectrum: How to Empower Youth Leaders – Morgan Keenan, Missouri GSA Network
- Marijuana Myths & Facts- MYAA’s Youth Ambassadors
- Taking Time – Healthy Relationships and Self-Wellness – EK Bruhn
- Service Learning 101 – Belton High School Service Learning Group
- The RockSTAR Program: Rocking Out for Suicide Prevention – Keitt Stathem
Don’t forget we will also be hosting our Youth Round Table event again this year where a student from your area can have their voice heard on topics that matter to your community! The day will close out with a walk to the Capitol to visit with lawmakers and a special youth awards ceremony held in the Capitol First Floor Rotunda.
A full copy of the schedule and descriptions of the breakout sessions here!
Special thanks to the following agencies for their sponsorship of Speak Hard 2013:
A look back:
Thanks to the over 350 attendees who made Speak Hard 2012 a great success! It was a fun day of learning, sharing, and dancing! Check out some of the photos and videos on our facebook page! Or, browse through the 2012 Speak Hard program to see the great workshops that we offered.
Speak Hard in the News:
Coverage from KMIZ ABC17
Coverage from KOMU NBC
Congratulations to the 2012 winners of the MYAA Outstanding Youth Prevention Award:
Samantha Caraway – Northeast Missouri Suicide Prevention Initiative
Chase Laney – Lebanon Area Home Schooling Association
Kimberly Ousley – Calvary Lutheran High School
Kara Wehmeyer – Calvary Lutheran High School
Chloe Myers – Smoke-Free Bulldogs
Angela Robinson – Rockwood Drug-Free Coalition
Jessica Buehler – Rockwood Drug-Free Coalition
Lucy Vogt – Lindbergh High School
Mik Ebert – Lindbergh High Schoo
Cory Garr – Morgan County CLEAR
Daniel Ryerson – Morgan County CLEAR
Scotti Holweger – Neosho Area Coalition
Dominic Puller – Nevada High School
Taylor Scott – Nevada High School
Casey Barker – Nevada High School
Isaac Hamilton – Youth With Vision and Liberty Alliance for Youth
Samantha Watts – Youth With Vision and Staley TRY
Abbey McKern – Youth With Vision and North Platte Community in Action (C.I.A.)