City of Alexandria Hosts 8th Annual Youth Leadership Conference

On August 10-12, 52 youth attended the free event that empowers emerging young leaders by providing training opportunities and connecting them to resources in the Alexandria community.

Page updated on March 18, 2022 at 1:46 PM
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City of Alexandria Hosts 8th Annual Youth Leadership Conference 

 A DCHS CONNECT NEWS HIGHLIGHT

August 20, 2021--On August 10-12, 52 youth attended the 8th Annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference, a free event for rising 9th-12th grade students that empowers emerging young leaders by providing training opportunities and connecting them to resources in the Alexandria community.  

Workshops presented this year included: 

  • "Mental Health: Prioritizing Our Well-Being," presented by Keep It 360 Peer Advocates Nana Addo, Glenda Amoateng, Alayit Berhanu, Yanelvis Gomez, Anna Harrington, Yaerelin Molina, Sylvia Rahim, and Lenhle Vilakati. 

  • "Self-Care for Leaders," presented by Alexandria City High School Student Helen Cooper. 

  • "Mindfulness for Real Life," presented by Gina Rollo White, founder and CEO of Mindful Junkie.  

  • "Empowered Youth, Today and Tomorrow," presented by Sindy Carballo Garcia, Youth Organizer at Tenants and Workers United 

  • "Learn to Discern," presented by Cara Wright, Digital Services Librarian for the Alexandria Library.  

  • "Igniting Change Through Advocacy & Activism," presented by Chlo’e Edwards, Policy Analyst at Voices for Virginia’s Children, and 

  • "The Art of Networking," presented by Tashana Pulliam, Secondary Schools Program Coordinator for the City of Alexandria 

To facilitate youth-adult partnerships, the last day of the conference included an afternoon networking session with over 36 Alexandria community leaders.  

The three-day event was hosted virtually by the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA), the Sexual Assault Center and the Alexandria Library.  

Youth that participated in the conference will receive updates throughout the year about internships, volunteer and leadership opportunities and other ways to get involved in the Alexandria community. 

ACAP’s mission is to prevent adolescent pregnancy through culturally and age appropriate education, advocacy, technical assistance, direct service prevention programs and public awareness. Collaboratively, ACAP works with young people, their families and the community to secure brighter futures.  

SAPCA is an alliance of parents, youth, schools, city health and recreation agencies, media, nonprofits, businesses, policymakers and law enforcement whose mission is to engage diverse sectors of the community in collaborative, cross-cultural and comprehensive substance abuse prevention efforts that result in a reduction of underage substance use and abuse in the City of Alexandria.  

The Sexual Assault Center offers support to survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking and their families and friends. Trained volunteers and staff are available 24 hours a day to provide crisis intervention and emotional support, advocacy with medical, police, and court systems, short-term individual and group counseling and information and referrals.