Maricopa youth heading to Calif. for anti-drug conference

Four members of Maricopa’s SADD chapter (Students Against Destructive Decisions) have been selected to attend a conference in Anaheim, Calif., on behalf of the MASH Coalition.

Founded in 2006 the MASH Coalition has been fighting the abuse of drugs and reaching out to all the youth in local communities.

Erica Barba, Andrew Humeyumptewa, Anthony Gonzalez and Kayla Kogutkiewicz will be attending the conference from July 24-28.

“The youth who are going have been involved with SADD are regular attendees and are consistently involved in a leadership capacity,” said Priscilla Behnke, coordinator for the Maricopa Youth Recreation Center. “Two of the members going have been involved with SADD since they were in the sixth grade and now they are going into their freshman year. All of them have assisted in one or more MASH activity and have also served as interns in the center.”

“We hope to bring back some new ideas we can share,” said Erica Barba, 14, president of the SADD. chapter. Barba said her experience with the Youth Center and the information she’s learned has helped her avoid the dangers associated with drugs and prepared her for high school, where she knows peer pressure will increase.

“I’ve made a lot of good friendships through here and they have kept me away from the bad influences,” Barba said. “I think I have a good foundation from what I learned which I think helps me going into high school. I’m hoping from the conference, I can learn more and continue what I am doing.”

“I want to be there for other kids and be able to teach them what I’ve learned,” said Kayla Kogutkiewiscz, 13. “I know a lot of kids are bored here and making bad decisions because of it. The summertime is especially hard because there’s no school and nothing to do.

“Even when you are safe at home, and if you are on a social network you sometimes see really mean things being said. I want to gain more skills and help spread awareness about the Youth Center so that maybe it helps others. too.”

Anthony Gonzalez, 13 is from Riverside, Calif. He’s lived here with his family for two years and said he is excited to return to Southern California. He agreed with Barba and Kogutkiewiscz about the temptations of drugs and the mission of the trip.

“Through the Youth Center, I’ve learned a lot about what drugs can do and I know there’s a lot of temptation out there,” said Gonzalez. “Our main goal from the conference is to share what we learn and to pass it along to others.”

The National Youth Leadership Conference and Training Institute is set up by Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. Founded in 1992, it has a membership organization of more than 5,000 anti-drug coalitions. At the Anaheim event, participants will take part in a variety of courses that range from, operating an anti-drug coalition to implementing environmental strategies.

For more information, call 520-582-6138 or visit www.facebook.com/pages/Maricopa-Youth-Recreation-Center/430351670365.