This is a unique opportunity for Mentor Foundation USA and youth to have a voice at the table of policy discussion in this country.
Led by slam poetry artist, Joseph Green, Mentor Foundation USA has incorporated slam poetry as an important tool to help students share their life stories and express their feelings. We first introduced these workshops at our Shattering the Myths youth rallies at the House of Sweden for National Drug Facts Day. These interactive one-day events are designed to dispel the myths that surround drug and substance abuse.
On May 1st we held our 5th ‘Shattered the Myths’ youth rally. This time it was for 700 seniors at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA. In addition to the slam poems performance, the students heard from Mayor William Euille, Deputy Director David Mineta from ONDCP and Phil Bauer who lost his son to prescription drugs just before he was set to graduate from high school. So far, Mentor Foundation has reached thousands of youth with our youth rallies in Maryland, DC and Virginia. We are planning to expand this program to reach more youth across the U.S. in 2014.