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February Offline Happenings! Thursday, February 6, Noon Thursday, February 13, 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 13, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; workshop repeated from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, 5:30-7:15 p.m. Monday, February 24, 7 p.m. (Note that this is the 4th Monday due to Presidents’ Day Holiday on the 3rd Monday) Save the Date– Marijuana Myth–“Marijuana is harmless and non-addictive” —Harmful effects of marijuana include anxiety/panic attacks, depression, paranoia, psychosis, schizophrenia, cardiovascular distress, memory loss, and more. –1 in every 11 adults and 1 in 6 adolescents who try marijuana become addicted. Sioux City Mayor’s Youth Commission Members Advocate for Initiatives On a recent trip to Des Moines, members of the Sioux City Mayor’s Youth Commission (MYC) made presentations to local legislators and the Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy. Members researched projects and presented information. Special thanks to MYC members Pablo Suarez Beltran, Andrew Lindquist, Araceli Lopez, Hannah Rens, and Seth Raders for their presentations. Members also participated in a drunk driving/distracted driving simulation presented by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. A brief summary of the Youth Commission presentations are listed below. Sioux City Mayor’s Youth Commission by Seth Raders, MYC Mayor, 2014 Members of the Sioux City Mayor’s Youth Commission have sent a group of members to the State Capitol to visit with our local legislators since 2003. The Sioux City Mayor’s Youth Commission studies about and advocates on issues facing today’s youth. The MYC provides leadership programs for our members and for younger students in Sioux City. We also promote volunteer service to the greater Sioux City community. The MYC is comprised of students from all Sioux City public and private high schools as well as home schooled students and it presently has 183 members! Last year the Youth Commission contributed 4,526 volunteer hours back to our community. Our newest members identified the number one problem facing youth today as Alcohol & Drug Use, followed closely by Bullying and Cyber Bullying. Bullying and Cyber Bullying by Andrew Lindquist, MYC Finance Director, 2014 It has been shown that bullying and cyber bullying significantly impacts a student’s learning environment in school, and the memories of bullying aren’t left at the door when a student goes to school or goes home. The proposed Bully-Free Iowa Act of 2014 supported by the Mayor’s Youth Commission empowers parents by creating a parental notification requirement and gives schools the discretion to respond to bullying that takes place off of school grounds if certain conditions are met.
Iowa Poison Control Center – A Model for Cost-Effective Healthcare Delivery by Araceli Lopez, MYC Legislative Department Co-Chair, 2014 We support full funding and a sustainable funding strategy for the Iowa Poison Control Center. This tremendous organization handles over 50,000 calls per year and the public, as well as hospitals and health departments, rely on its 24/7 service. This agency is a model for cost-effective healthcare delivery and reports that 90% of the calls from the public are treated at home for a savings of over $12 million in medical costs because trips to the hospital or doctor are avoided each year because they are managed over the phone by the IPCC staff. Coding by Hannah Rens, MYC Marketing Director, 2014 We support offering a Coding class in every high school in Iowa. Coding is telling the computer what it is supposed to do. For example, every screen you see has been coded. It’s the links, images, wall paper, text, everything. Most students aren’t being exposed to coding now but this should be a priority!
Language Runs the World by Pablo Suarez Beltran, MYC Mayor Pro Tem, 2014 Teaching foreign languages to students is important and we support and promote having foreign language classes in all school districts in Iowa. Siouxland CARES facilitates the activities of the Sioux City Mayor’s Youth Commission and we are very proud of its members and accomplishments! |
CONTACT US: Siouxland Fact Join them in giving back to your community–beSomebody today! Looking for some helpful websites? www.drugfreeinfo.org Other Resources beSomebody Tri-State Curfew The following curfew is now in effect in Sioux City, Sergeant Bluff, and Woodbury County, Iowa, North Sioux City, South Dakota, South Sioux City, Nebraska, and Dakota County, Nebraska. Please enforce these times in your home. 10:00 p.m. for minors under the age of 14 About Siouxland CARES The Anti-Drug is Communication. Trustworthiness: Think it. Be it. Make Your Character Count in Siouxland!! |
February 2014 Newsletter
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