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CONCORD - The Street Grace™ YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY is designed for teens ages 13 through 17 to equip them with leadership skills to become effective leaders. There is no cost to participate in the academy.

The eight-session academy is designed to involve the participants on how to use critical thinking skills to make good decisions for themselves and to influence their peers to make good decisions. To achieve this, the Youth Leadership Academy was constructed by consulting military curricula and programs such as West Point’s “Character Development Strategy: Live honorable and build trust.” Additionally, peer-reviewed articles and research have been implemented to educate youth on leadership and character development as well as challenge their perceptions and behavior amid faltering and unethical examples of leadership in the ever-growing technological advances of today.

In addition to discussions on leadership, character, mental health, attitude, mentorship, and stewardship, the academy discussions will address mature topics: Sexting; Sexual Touch; Sex; Dating Abuse; Sexual Exploitation over the Internet; Social Media; Internet Predators; Sexual and Physical Abuse; Healthy Relationships v. Unhealthy Relationships; and Human Trafficking.

The leader of the academy is Dr. Rhonda Morgan, Educator and Speaker. Dr. Morgan taught business administration on the college and university level for over 30 years and is a speaker for Mission Georgia/Georgia Baptist Mission Board to mobilize churches to fight in the battle to stop Human Trafficking in Georgia. Dr. Morgan was trained to teach the Youth Leadership Academy by Street Grace. www.streetgrace.org

Street Grace focuses on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (anyone under age 18), which is a gateway to human trafficking. She believes that we can stop the supply of children falling victims to predators by educating the youth on the topics covered in the academy.

The Youth Leadership Academy will meet in the Fellowship Hall of Concord Baptist Church, 9670 GA Hwy 18, Concord, GA, and is open to teens in the Pike County Community and surrounding counties. The academy begins on Sunday, September 10 from 6-7:30 p.m. and will meet on Sunday evenings thru November 10. (No meetings on Sunday September 24 and October 22.)

Graduation will be on Sunday, November 17 at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Concord Baptist Church. Participants must attend all eight sessions to graduate.

Participants in the academy must register to attend at https://stopitin2022.com/.

Details about the academy and the registration form are on the website. The maximum number of participants is 20 so register early to reserve a spot.