Entries for April 2008

Reality check for students

Students from all over the county participated in the Dollars and Sense program at PHCC this week. Many sponsors and organizations made this event possible. Students would not only choose a career and salary but would choose how they spent it. In the real world we all have living expenses and bills. These kids were faced with adult decisions today that will forever change the way they think. Students lined up to meet professionals to talk about homes, health care, careers and many others issues adults face every day.  Many more pictures were taken of this event and can be seen in our picture gallery.

CHILL Youth Task Force and HEY! Community Coalition to host 5^th annual Positive Choices Youth Rally and Teen Maze at Patrick Henry Community College on April 17th.

From getting a new job to having a baby to graduating college, CHILL and HEY!, try to teach area youth about making positive choices in their lives, and how negative choices can effect their entire life. This year will be the 5^th Positive Choices for youth rally and teen maze hosted at Patrick Henry Community College. The first year that this rally was held brought out 250 area youth, just last year over 500 area youth came out for this positive alternative event.

You might be asking yourself, what is a teen maze? Picture a life size game board and you’ll get a good idea. The teen maze is designed to “bring to life” the potential effects of life choices. You navigate your way through the maze by drawing scenario cards or spinning a wheel that indicates a “choice” for you. After receiving this choice, you follow the maze path to discover some of the realities that choice may bring. The maze paths are staffed by various individuals who have a certain “role” to play an present the appropriate information for that path. This is creative, interactive, and delivers powerful information to youth about the consequences of your life choices.

This years Youth Rally and Teen Maze will be held on the campus of PHCC in Collins Gym, with a Kick off at 5:00 pm. 5:30-7:15 pm Middle school goes through the maze, and 7:30-9:30 pm High School interactive health fair. FREE Pizza will be served from 5:00 – 7:30pm.

CHILL, HEY! and the Drug Task Force would like to thank the following partners: Carlisle School, Carter Bank and Trust, Charity League of M/H Co., Citizens Against Family Violence, Collinsville Printing Co., Department of Social Services, Focus On Youth, For the Children, Healthy Community Initiative, Henry Co. G.E.M.S, Henry Co. Parks and Recreation, Henry Co. Schools, Henry Co. Sheriff’s Office, Henry/Martinsville Health Dept. Martinsville City Police Department, Martinsville City Schools, Mental Health Association, New College Institute, PHCC, Patrick Henry Correctional Unit # 28, Piedmont Community Services, Virginia Department of ABC, and YMCA.