‘Our Place’ prevention program emphasizes student leadership

IRON MOUNTAIN -- Our Place Community Center trainers are offering a new leadership program called Prevention 101 to Iron Mountain students in fifth and sixth grade.

Prevention 101 is a student leadership training curriculum developed to educate students in fifth and sixth grade about valuable information on bully prevention, stress prevention, conflict prevention and drug prevention; as well as promoting student leadership development and career planning.

"The breakout sessions that my students attended were really informative, and great reminders for our students as summer vacation is right around the corner," said Lori Cevigney, sixth-grade teacher at Iron Mountain. "When I asked my students why they do not use drugs, they point to their head and said, 'The brain.' The earlier we inspire and motivate students to be drug-free, the better."

United Way of Dickinson County and Our Place Community Center joined together to develop curriculum and form an experienced training team to offer services to local schools.

"Bullying, drug abuse and stress are real problems for students," United Way Director Barb Messer said. "We are fortunate to have the new community center and dedicated trainers in our area to support student leadership development and primary prevention in area schools."

Students in fifth through 12th grade who are interested in learning more about the Our Place Community Center Empowerment and Belong student leadership teams will have an opportunity to meet over the summer.The first summer Empowerment and Belong Team meeting will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, in the school library at 217 W. Hughitt St.

Students are asked to sign up online at ourplacecc.org.

"We need our students to lead the way in designing and managing the new Imagination Factory Children's Museum," empowerment advisor Jeff Gurchinoff said.