PEABODY — Eight Peabody teens selected for a leadership conference at Merrimack College will use their training to help their peers and city leaders address the problem of drug and alcohol abuse.
Accompanied by young adult librarian Melissa Rauseo, the group attended the Northeast Youth Leadership Institute at the North Andover college for 21/2 days last week with nearly 40 of their peers from throughout the region.
"The kids had a wonderful time," Rauseo said. "I think they learned some really valuable leadership skills."
The librarian said participants spent time learning their own leadership style through interactive games and activities like a mock city council meeting. The Peabody youths, ages 14 to 20, also met teens from a variety of backgrounds, she said.
"I was really impressed with the quality of kids they had there," the librarian said.
The youths also picked up skills like better communication with adults and preparing presentations.
"I think they're really going to be a very valuable asset to the city," Rauseo said.
Incoming Peabody High sophomore Lejla Huskic enjoyed not only meeting a whole new group of her peers but also forging friendships.
Among her favorite activities was one called Cross the Line. Participants were asked questions about themselves and were asked to cross the line when the question applied.
"We just got to see how different people were, and I liked that the most," said Lejla, 14.
Like all institute participants, Lejla applied to attend and wrote an essay about herself. She chose to write about her work as a vice president of the library's Youth Advisory Klatch.
Rauseo said she's bringing the Peabody group together later this week to discuss what they learned and look for ways to address some of the challenges local teens face.
City Health Director Sharon Cameron said she hoped to tap the youth leaders for help with a $300,000 state grant to stem drug and alcohol abuse. She said the institute fee was waived because of the city's grant.
"It is really our desire to develop the capacity of young people to become leaders in the community around health issues," she said.
The health director said the youths' input would be instrumental in understanding the ways to best reach their peers.
"We really need to hear that from the kids," Cameron said. "The adults have a very different picture of what the reality is for the kids."
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