Q-C YOUNGSTERS LEARN ABOUT LIFE ISSUES DURING YOUTH CONFERENCE

Drug Free Youth in Touch, or D.F.Y.I.T., wants to show its middle
and high school-age members that there's more to life than drugs.

That's why its eighth annual youth conference Friday focused on four
other important topics they wanted to know more about.

"We wanted to give them the opportunity to learn more things that
they might not necessarily learn about in school. We want them to be
more aware of things that are going on around them," said Katy
Embree, a prevention specialist at the Center for Alcohol and Drug
Services, and D.F.Y.I.T. coordinator.

In November, D.F.Y.I.T. had it's young members choose what
interested them most from a list of topics. Their top choices were
addressed at Friday's conference.

A representative of John Lewis Coffee Shop spoke to the kids about
youth homelessness. The group learned more about gang violence and
how it affects the Quad-Cities from the Davenport Police Department.
Iowa State University Extension discussed relationships and dating.
And Family Resources Inc., told them how stereotyping and racism can
affect others.

Bettendorf Middle School seventh-grader Brooklyn Keegan became
involved in D.F.Y.I.T. in the sixth grade because she said she had
known people who were using drugs and knew it wasn't something she
wanted to do. She came to Friday's conference eager to learn some new things.

"I want to know about how to have a better relationship," she said.

Her friend, Katy Furkel, also a seventh-grader at Bettendorf Middle,
added, "It's the only time we really get to learn about this stuff.
In health class, they always talk about dating like it's a bad
thing," she said.

Furkel also was interested in other topics being presented.
"Personally, I want to learn more about gangs. I know there's lots
around here. Even in school you see things," she said.

Embree said that an important aspect for the kids at Friday's
conference, as well as D.F.Y.I.T.'s regular weekly activities, is
that they can see other kids their age interested in the same things.

"We get the kids together and they meet all kinds of new people and
they know that they're not the only one. When they all get together,
they can see that they're not the only ones having to make these
choices," she said.

D.F.Y.I.T. is involved in 10 middle and high schools in Scott
County. For more information contact Embree at (563) 332-9080.