EMPOWER Encourages Youth to Get and Stay Involved
SCOTT COUNTY, Ind.— EMPOWER, Scott County’s Youth Coalition led by DFC Youth Coordinator, Melinda Lowry, is a youth-driven and youth-managed coalition with participation from both Austin and Scottsburg Middle and High School students.
EMPOWER was created as part of the Scott County Drug Free Communities Support Program initiative of the CEASe Coalition. Their mission is to align youth with their community to create a powerful impact through prevention, health improvement, and positive relationships. They chose the name EMPOWER because it encourages and equips Scott County youth with the tools to live healthy, safe, and drug-free lives.
EMPOWER would like to share some highlights of their coalition activities during COVID-19: the EMPOWER Leadership Team continues meeting once a week via Zoom planning youth prevention initiatives with good attendance; the full EMPOWER coalition also meets via Zoom once a month; EMPOWER Leadership continues social media posts providing opportunities for Scott County youth to participate in positive resilience building activities and webinars that will earn them points on the EMPOWER App that they can trade in for prizes (check out their EMPOWER Scott County App on Apple and Android); EMPOWER has a prevention messaging t-shirt contest going on and open to all Scott County youth grades 6 through 12 with the winner receiving a $200 Amazon Gift Card.
Students who watch webinars suggested on the EMPOWER social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) can earn points on the EMPOWER Scott County App that can later be turned in for prizes.
Scott County youth (grades 6-12) who would like to get involved with EMPOWER should text @YOUTH823 to 81010 or text DFC Youth Coordinator, Melinda Lowry, at 812-595-6213.