FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2009, 2009

Contact: Candace J. Semien
Communications Coordinator
(225)771-2242 ext. 303
www.suagcenter.com

Annual summit prompts 8th graders to 'Change the station, change the world'

First of four summits held Friday, August 21

OPELOUSAS-"It's Back-to-School Summit time again, and we expect this year to be one of the best ones yet," said Edna Lastrapes, assistant area agent for the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

This year, the summits' message "Knowledge is Power: Change the World," will encourage nearly 2,300 eighth graders to change their clothes, change the station, change their minds, change their direction, change their attitude, and change the world.

The summit is an annual collaboration between the Southern University Ag Center through its Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives and 40 other nonprofit organizations, state agencies, local municipal governments, and businesses. "These local events have been instrumental in opening a dialogue with pre-teens on alternatives to drug use, sex, and violence while giving them tips and specific instruction on how to excel in school and how to make healthy life choices," said Lastrapes.

The Southwest Center will conduct the four summit events from 8 am to 2 pm on: Friday, August 21, 2009, in Opelousas; Friday, August 28, 2009, in Ville Platte; Thursday, September 3, 2009, in Cade; Friday, September 11, 2009 in New Roads.

Guest speakers include: Olympic medalist Hollis Conway; motivational speaker Den Hussey; youth specialist Wanda Burke; coach and mentor Byron Starks; physician Dr. Rani "Tha Hip Hop Doc" Whitfield; and keynote speaker Danna "Dr. Truth" Andrus.

Refreshments and door prizes will be provided to school-age participants. The public and media are invited.

For more information please contact the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives at (337) 943-2410 or email Lastrapes at edna_lastrapes@suagcenter.com.

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