SMS students head to Capitol Hill
(Courtesy photo) Five Sandpoint Middle School students were chosen to represent Bonner County at the National Youth Leadership Initiative Conference in Washington, D.C. Pictured, from left, in the front row are SMS students Gabby Hicks, Autumn Morgan, Libby McLaughlin, Karsen Granier, and Darby Neu. Pictured in the back row are 7B Drug Free Director Erika McCall and SMS Leadership Teacher Kari Granier.
Feb. 5 will be an exciting day for five Sandpoint Middle School Leadership students as they head off to the nation’s capitol.
Karsen Granier, Gabby Hicks, Darby Neu, Autumn Morgan and Libby McLaughlin were chosen to represent Bonner County at the National Youth Leadership Initiative Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference is part of the National Leadership Forum presented by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and is funded through the local 7B Drug Free Coalition.
7B Drug Free is a local movement comprised of dedicated local community members focused on reducing substance abuse rates in Bonner County through education and building life skills and resiliency throughout the community. This opportunity will expose these youth to an expanded understanding of substance use prevention and build new skills and relationships that will help guide them through high school and into their adult lives.
Members will attend workshop sessions through the National Youth Leadership Initiative and will then spend one day on Capitol Hill meeting with Senators and Representatives from Idaho learning about legislative process and educating lawmakers on the issues they see in their daily lives while also advocating for healthy lifestyles in Idaho.
The group departs on Feb. 5 and returns home on Feb. 10. The trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand the awareness of substance use within area youth while providing an opportunity to empower them to come home and be champions for their peers.