Registration Open for 2021 Alexandria Youth Leadership Virtual Conference
Rising 9th graders through 12th graders residing in the City of Alexandria are invited to register for the annual free Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference (YLC). The YLC empowers emerging young leaders by providing training opportunities and connecting them to resources in their community.
The conference will provide youth with opportunities to participate in engaging sessions focused on mental health, self-care, mindfulness, youth advocacy, media literacy, social media, social change. and professionalism and networking. A networking event will take place on August 12 with some of Alexandria's most prominent community leaders.
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Community Leaders, Attend the Youth Leadership Conference
In partnership with the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center and the Alexandria Library, SAPCA and ACAP are sponsoring the eighth annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference, an event to teach youth how to engage, lead, and advocate for issues in our community. While this conference is usually held in person, for everyone's health and safety, this year we will hold the conference virtually via Zoom. We anticipate between 25 and 30 young leaders will participate in the leadership conference, the same number as have participated in past conferences.
In addition to skill-building, the Youth Leadership Conference helps to strengthen essential building blocks for young people, or Developmental Assets, including a sense of feeling valued by their community, self-esteem, recognizing themselves as a resource to others and planning and decision-making.
The Youth Leadership Conference is excited to continue our annual Networking Event to encourage youth civic engagement in Alexandria. Our goal is to facilitate youth-adult partnerships by providing a virtual forum in which organizations can connect directly with Alexandria's youth leaders. Your participation as a leader in the Alexandria community is invaluable. Youth will have an opportunity to talk with you and other adult community leaders and learn about volunteer and leadership opportunities available in Alexandria. Youth have much to learn from your experience and are deeply connected to the work you are doing in our City.
This is also your opportunity to recruit youth who have the necessary skills to participate in your organization in a leadership position such as a member of your Board of Directors, Commission member or Committee Chair. Many Alexandria boards, commissions and community groups have space reserved for youth representatives or could be stronger if youth voices were included in the group. Unfortunately, many youth spaces remain consistently unfilled, or organizations do not think of including youth leaders on their boards. Our aim is to help build a network of youth leaders who can serve effectively and to help boards, commissions and community groups understand how to benefit from youth voices. We believe the first step is to have community leaders talk with youth to learn about their abilities and interests and to see where their voices and skills could fit within our community. To accomplish this, SAPCA and ACAP will work with you to:
- Meet Alexandria's youth leaders at this Networking Event and throughout the year.
- Help orient you as to why it is important or beneficial to have youth leaders on Alexandria's boards, commissions and work groups, and
- Work with you to make sure that our city's boards and commissions know how to engage youth who serve with your adult leadership.
We hope you are able to join us for this important event. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact one of us listed below.
Sincerely,
Allen C. Lomax Helen Morris
SAPCA Chair ACAP Chair
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SAPCA Displays Banners Highlighting A Trend To Get Behind
Last month, SAPCA premiered banners created to promote the social norm that the majority of teens in Alexandria do not use alcohol, a trend to get behind. Between 2011 and 2019, teen alcohol use in Alexandria decreased 52%.
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These banners complement a series of short videos created by Alexandria youth that encourage youth to be alcohol free. The banners can be found at Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Drive) and at Simpson Field (426 E Monroe Avenue).
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Congratulations, Graduates!
In June, Alexandrians celebrated the graduation of the last class to graduate from T.C. Williams High School -- the class of 2021. SAPCA recognizes one of these graduates, SAPCA member Cadence Claypoole, on her graduation. Cadence served on the Board for three years and most recently held the position of secretary. During her involvement, Cadence was nominated for the Youth Volunteer Service Award given by Volunteer Alexandria in 2019. Cadence will be moving to Chicago, IL to study at Columbia College.
"My time in Alexandria has shown me so much diversity and different walks of life. Going to Alexandria City High has been one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences," said Cadence. "I can’t wait to take on a new city with the vast knowledge I have gained and experiences that couldn’t come from any other place. Hopefully, I’ll return to Alexandria and have something much greater to offer it."
SAPCA thanks Cadence for her hard work and active involvement with SAPCA during her time in high school. We wish Cadence and the class of 2021 a huge congratulations -- best of luck as you start this next chapter!
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Partnership Spotlight: Drug Take Back Event Reaches Homebound Resident
This month, the Alexandria Sheriff's Office collaborated with Senior Services of Alexandria to advance efforts to dispose of unused and expired medication safely.
Through this partnership, medication was collected from homebound residents served through the Meals on Wheels program.
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Neighborhood Pharmacy: 2204 Mt Vernon Ave.; open Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sun: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Inova Alexandria Hospital: Visitor's Center Lobby (near cashier's window), 4320 Seminary Road; open daily from 1 - 5 p.m.
- Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (just inside front entrance, ring bell for access): 3600 Wheeler Ave.; available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
SAPCA thanks our partners for their efforts to dispose of unused and expired medication safely. Visit alexandriava.gov/Opioids for more information about safe medicine disposal and to learn about Alexandria’s efforts regarding the opioid crisis.
Meals on Wheels is a life-sustaining program that allows seniors who are unable to leave their homes to shop, or have difficulty preparing a meal, to have two healthy meals a day delivered to their homes. Learn more about Meals on Wheels here.
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Marijuana Legalization in Virginia - What You Need To Know
On July 1, 2021, it became legal for adults age 21 or older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana in Virginia. While this legislation will take several years to become fully enacted, here is what youth, parents and community members should know about this law:
Legislation changes include:
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It will be legal for adults 21 or older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. It will also be legal to gift up to an ounce of marijuana to another adult age 21 or older.
- Each household will be able to cultivate up to four marijuana plants; plants must not be accessible to children.
- Any adult who possesses more than an ounce but less than a pound can be subject to a civil penalty of up to $25. Possession of more than a pound of marijuana is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000.
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Enter the Student Logo Design Contest for Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is is looking for a new logo that will support the new name for Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School. This contest is open to ACPS currently-enrolled students; submissions are due by July 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
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Alexandria Community Health Improvement Plan 2025 is Live
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Please read through the full plan and share it widely with your networks. Additionally, the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria has released a Call for Grant Proposals to advance specific strategies in the CHIP. All applications are due by midnight, July 19.
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JFK Creative Portraits: Celebrating the Kennedy Center at 50
In celebration of the Kennedy Center's 50th anniversary, young artists ages 14-26 living in the United States are invited to reflect on the legacy of John F. Kennedy (JFK) by submitting all-original, creative portraits of JFK. In honor of JFK's birthday on May 29, the Kennedy Center is launching this creative art competition asking artists to use one of JFK's ideals of Service, Justice, Freedom, Courage and Gratitude as inspiration for their portrait. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2021.
Artwork will be judged by a panel of art experts from across the country looking for a high level of skill, expression of creativity, and reflection of President Kennedy's legacy and ideals. Ten portraits will be selected by the panel and will be displayed in a digital gallery on the Kennedy Center's 50th anniversary website through at least June 2022. One portrait from the 10 selected artworks will be chosen by a team of Kennedy Center representatives to be displayed in the Kennedy Center's Hall of States in Washington, DC, from September 2021 through June 2022 and the selected artist will receive a $500 prize.
Click here to review the official rules and eligibility and submission requirements.
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Upcoming Events & Resources |
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Call for Volunteers: Join SAPCA at Community Cookouts!
Each year, community organizations in Alexandria work together to host a series of cookouts to ensure youth and families are aware of community resources. SAPCA is looking for youth and adult volunteers to attend one or more of these cookouts to share resources with youth and families and help spread the word about our work. No previous experience is required to volunteer and free food will be available at each event.
Community Cookout Schedule
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7/6 from 6-8 p.m. – Ruby Tucker Family Center (322 Tancil Ct)
- 7/7 from 6-8 p.m. – Southern Towers Apartments (4901 Seminary Rd)
- 7/13 from 6-8 p.m. – Brent Place Apartments (375 S Reynolds St)
- 7/14 from 6-8 p.m. – William Ramsey Recreation Center (5650 Sanger Ave)
We hope you can join us for these fun community events!
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Teen Wellness Center Remains Open During Summer
While this school year has come to a close, the Teen Wellness Center at Alexandria City High School will remain open during the summer during the following hours:
- Monday-Friday: 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. and 2 P.M. to 5 P.M.
- Thursday: 12 P.M. to 5 P.M.
Youth in Alexandria ages 12-19 can make an appointment by calling 703.746.4776 or texting "APPT" to 571.329.2245.
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Emma Beall, MPH
SAPCA Coordinator
O: 703.746.3670
C: 571.302.1022
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Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
123 N Pitt St, Suite 225
Alexandria, VA 22314
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