July 2024

Registration is Open for the 2024 Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference!

Registration is open for the annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference! This free event is open to rising 9th through 12th graders residing in the City of Alexandria. This year’s conference will be held August 6 and 7, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and August 8, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Dr.) Participants who attend the conference in its entirety are eligible to receive a $20 gift card! This event is free and youth must register by August 2. Register here.

The Youth Leadership Conference empowers emerging young leaders by providing training opportunities and connecting them to resources in their community.

Click here to view and share the event flyer.

This event is hosted by SAPCA, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center, and the Alexandria Library.

Questions? Contact felicia.parks@alexandriava.gov or call 703.851.6163.

Dear Community Leaders,

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) and the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) cordially invite you to an in-person Networking Event with some of Alexandria's rising youth leaders, on Thursday, August 8, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Dr.) Please register here by August 1.

In partnership with the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center and the Alexandria Library, SAPCA and ACAP are sponsoring the 11th annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference, an event to teach youth how to engage, lead, and advocate for issues in our community. We anticipate between 25 and 30 young leaders will participate in the leadership conference this year.

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 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 can join us for this important event. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact one of us listed below.

Sincerely,

City Hosts Youth Futsal Tournament

Over 40 Alexandria youth attended last month's El Mundialito futsal tournament. During this fun event, youth split into teams to compete in a series of matches, with the top two teams receiving trophies. Youth participants also received free t-shirts, snacks, and soccer balls to take home after the event.

This event was hosted by the Alexandria Police Department in collaboration with SAPCA, ACAP, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), the Alexandria Soccer Association, Capital Youth Empowerment Program, and Casa Chirilagua.

Youth Services Coordinating Council Summer Kick Off

On June 11, the Youth Services Coordinating Council (YSCC) met for a networking event to kick off the summer. During this event, attendees shared updates about summer programming and connected with fellow youth serving providers. The YSCC brings together youth serving providers each month to support the implementation of the Children and Youth Community Plan (CYCP).

To be added to the YSCC distribution list, contact Noraine Buttar at noraine.buttar@alexandriava.gov

Celebrating Alexandria's Champions of Children

On June 12, the Children Youth and Families Collaborative Commission (CYFCC) recognized 11 local leaders for their efforts to support the goals of the CYCP, a roadmap for how our community will work together to create the conditions for all young people to thrive in Alexandria. Please join us in recognizing this year's Champions of Children awardees:

• Daniel Altman, Co-founder, Northern Virginia Resettling Afghan Families Together
• Ksenya Litvak, Art Teacher, Commonwealth Academy
• Michelle Biwer, Youth Services Manager, Alexandria Library
• Laura Funes, ACPS Social Work Volunteer, Alexandria City High School (ACHS)
• Col. James Paige, Executive Director, Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria
• John Humphrey, ACPS Teacher, ACHS
• Reagan Moore, Senior Program Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services
• David Ulloa, Alexandria Mentoring Partnership Coordinator, Court Services Unit
• Kate Migliorini, ACPS School Counselor, Francis C. Hammond Middle School
• Ashley Wallen, ACPS Teacher, Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School
• Gabe Elias, ACPS Teacher and SAPCA Board Member, ACHS

Together with our community, the CYFCC recognized these awardees for their dedication to supporting Alexandria children, youth, and families by fostering partnerships, demonstrating strategic thinking and leadership, promoting service access or best practices, creatively addressing challenges, and working to implement policy. Please join us in congratulating the 2024 Champions of Children!

The CYFCC provides advice, advocacy, and pertinent information to Alexandria City staff, City Council, School Board, and other relevant entities in order to influence policy and decisions that result in better outcomes for children, youth, and families in Alexandria.

Learn more at alexandriava.gov/CYFCC

Keep It 360 Peer Advocate Program Updates

Please join SAPCA in welcoming new and returning Keep It 360 Peer Advocates, a group of Alexandria youth who work closely with SAPCA, ACAP, and the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center to support prevention and outreach efforts:

• Alice Thompson, ACHS Junior
• Christopher Molina, ACHS Junior
• Khamille Muhammad, ACHS Junior
• Luis Calejas, ACHS Sophomore
• Marieme Dat, ACHS Junior
• Mina Stankazi, ACHS Senior
• Tae’Lyr Colston, ACHS Sophomore
• Yasin Bhuiyan, ACHS Junior
• Zenith Parker, ACHS Junior
• Zhi McMillan, ACHS Junior
• Yaerelin Molina, Northern Virginia Community College student

At the end of June, the Peer Advocates attended a planning retreat to receive training about providing education, information, and support to Alexandria teens about prevention topics.

During this retreat, the Peer Advocates also planned activities that will take place during the upcoming school year and met with the Alexandra Youth Ambassadors, a group of high school students that support community engagement efforts focused on anti-violence, trauma healing, and social emotional learning. SAPCA looks forward to continuing to work with our partners and youth leaders to plan and implement youth-led activities.

To learn more, contact Leia Stuart, Youth Engagement Specialist, at leia.stuart@alexandriava.gov

Make the Most of Travel Time: Talk About Prevention

For many families, summer includes increased travel time with kids. No matter what the length or mode of transportation, many trips provide chances for connection. Check out some of these resources available to help parents and other caring adults have productive conversations about the dangers of youth substance use:

Listen to the “What Parents Are Saying” podcast

Hear from parents, caregivers, and nationally recognized experts as they lend their unique perspectives on how to navigate conversations around substance use and mental health.

Explore the Consequences of Underage Drinking fact sheet

Available in English and Spanish, this fact sheet equips adults with information about the dangers of underage drinking so this information can be shared with other community members of all ages.

Complete the Family Agreement Form: Avoiding Alcohol

This sample agreement form outlines steps families can take to prioritize prevention.

Keep the conversation going as a family:

• Ask: Do you think peer pressure increases or decreases as you get older?
• Brainstorm: What would you tell your future self about avoiding underage drinking and other substance use?
• Inform: Data shows that drinking and other substance use have a negative impact on athletic performance. What other areas of life could suffer from drinking and other substance use?
• Assure: We are always here whenever you have concerns. We can listen, answer questions, or help you find answers.

Explore more prevention resources here.

Quick Links

Call for Grant Proposals to Improve Community Health and Well-Being

The Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria is seeking grant proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations to improve the health and well-being of youth and adults who live, work, and play in the City of Alexandria. Proposals must advance specific goals, strategies, and tactics in the Alexandria Community Health Improvement Plan in one of the Plan's three priority areas:

• Housing
• Mental Health
• Poverty

Grant proposals must identify the specific (a) strategy or strategies and (b) tactic or tactics within the selected priority area the proposal focuses on. The strategies and tactics within each priority area are identified in the Community Health Improvement Plan. New and innovative tactics, not included in the Plan, will be considered as long as there is a written narrative showing a direct connection between the innovative tactic and its contribution to achieving the strategy or strategies identified in the proposal.

In addition, proposals should describe how funding will be used to promote equity or address inequities or disparities.

Important Dates

• Grant Proposals due: August 23, 2024 (by 11:59 p.m.)
• Awards Announced: September 24, 2024
• Grant Period Begins: October 1, 2024
• Grant Ends: September 30, 2025
• Final Grant Report due: October 30, 2025

Eligibility & Funding Availability

• Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)3 designation from the IRS or be sponsored by a fiscal agent with a 501(c)3 status.
• Proposals must demonstrate that funding will be used to benefit adults and/or youth who live, work, and play in the City of Alexandria.
• Successful applicants will be required to submit a final report using the report template provided by the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria. Please note that successful applicants under the Mental Health priority area may have additional expenditure reporting requirements and will have record retention requirements. These requirements are discussed at the end of the grant application.
• The minimum funding request is $2,500, and the maximum funding request is $10,000. Funds must be spent by grantees by September 30, 2025.

To apply, please review the 2024 Grant Application.

For more information, please visit the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria website.

Sign-Up for Youth Summer Volunteering!

Youth Engaged In Service (YES) is returning this summer with opportunities for middle and high school students to serve their community. YES participants will engage in efforts to deter food insecurity, clean up local parks, remove invasive species, serve local nonprofits, and more. Dates for half-day programming (1p.m. to 4 p.m., unless otherwise noted) are as follows:

• Tuesday, July 16 (Service Project with Community Re-Entry Facility)
• Thursday, July 18 (ALIVE!)
• Tuesday, July 23 (Environmental Restoration)
• Thursday, July 25 (Activities with Senior Citizens)
• Saturday, July 27 (Topic to be announced)
• Saturday, August 10 (Topic to be announced)

There are also three-day programs for middle school students (July 30-August 1) and high school students (August 13-15). Dates and topics are subject to change.

Visit the YES webpage or subscribe to Volunteer Alexandria's the Family & Youth Newsletter for more information.

Click here to learn more.

Planet Fitness Offers Free High School Summer Pass

Between June 1 and August 31, teens between the ages of 14-19 can work out at Planet Fitness for free all summer long! Follow these easy steps to pre-register for your free High School Summer Pass membership and get ready for your most energized summer yet!

• Pre-register here.
• Download the Planet Fitness App to get your digital club pass.
• Work out at your home club for free from June 1 to August 31!

Learn more here.

SummerQuest 2024

From June through August, visit Alexandria Library locations in person and online to participate in SummerQuest. Through this free reading program, participants of all ages, including teens and adults, can earn prizes for reading and completing activities, including free books, gift card drawing entries, and tickets to a Washington Nationals game. Learn more at alexlibraryva.org/summerquest.

Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria 

4850 Mark Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22311