MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii Meth Project has announced applications for its Teen Advisory Council are available for the 2014-2015 school year.

All high school students entering grades 9 through 12 for the upcoming school year and attending public, private, and home schools statewide are encouraged to apply for one of 20 available positions on the council.

Each member will serve for one term concurrent with the school year, from July 2014 to June 2015.

During their terms, Teen Advisory Council members will have the opportunity to lead and facilitate outreach in their schools and communities across the state.

They will be charged with raising awareness about the importance of methamphetamine prevention, especially among Hawaii’s youth.

“Students are vital to our outreach efforts and we are so appreciative of their dedication to the Hawaii Meth Project’s mission to prevent meth use in Hawaii,” said David Earles, executive director of the Hawaii Meth Project.

“Teen Advisory Council members provide us with direct connections to their peers and a crucial channel to communicate our message to teens statewide. By engaging in peer-to-peer outreach, these teens are able to practice their communication and professional skills while making a positive difference in their own communities,” Earles said.

Building communication skills is key for current and future Teen Advisory Council members, as they will be asked to participate in monthly conference calls and contribute to group brainstorming sessions on how to most effectively relay to teens the Hawaii Meth Project’s key message of “Not Even Once.”

Teen Advisory Council members will be expected to lead by example and perpetuate the importance of living a drug-free lifestyle.

“Serving on the Teen Advisory Council has been a rewarding and memorable experience for me this past year, and I would highly recommend this experience and opportunity to students who are ambitious and passionate about meth prevention and awareness,” said Kehaulani Likio, a senior at University Laboratory School. “I can honestly say that this opportunity has provided me with an avenue to better understand and communicate with my peers. My only regret is not getting involved earlier with the Hawaii Meth Project.”

Prospective members will be asked to dedicate between 10 to 20 hours of volunteer service work each month. Selected candidates must be available to attend a mandatory training session June 18-20 on Oahu (travel expenses will be covered).

Teens interested in applying to be a part of the 2014–2015 Teen Advisory Council must complete an official application, which can be found at: http://hawaiimethproject.org/About-Us/teen-council.php

The completed application along with two letters of reference must be submitted by 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 by email to Georgi@hawaiimethproject.org or faxed to (808) 356-8645.

Applicants wishing to submit hard copies by mail must have their applications postmarked by April 30 and mailed to: Hawaii Meth Project, TAC Applications, P.O. Box 3073, Honolulu, HI 96802.

Also, the Hawaii Meth Project has announced Julie Nguyen has joined the organization as its program coordinator.

Nguyen brings to Hawaii Meth Project previous experience in volunteer coordination, fundraising, community development, and special event planning.

In her new role, Nguyen will be responsible for planning and implementing meth prevention lessons in Hawaii schools as well as closely work with the Hawaii Meth Project’s Teen Advisory Council to empower them.

She will also engage volunteers to promote the Hawaii Meth Project’s mission.

“We are thrilled to have Julie on board and welcome her to the Hawaii Meth Project team,” said David Earles, executive director of the Hawaii Meth Project. “This position is a vital component of spreading Hawaii Meth Project’s ‘Not Even Once’ message and allowing our youths to be champions of this cause. Julie has the energy and drive to support our continuously growing list of community events and school presentations while connecting the public to our mission.”

On a day-to-day basis, Nguyen will be working to coordinate meth prevention lessons in classrooms statewide, briefing students on the dangerous risks of methamphetamine use and the importance of prevention.

She will also work with the Teen Advisory Council, a group of select students who work to plan awareness initiatives in their own schools and communities.

In addition, Nguyen will be responsible for managing the Hawaii Meth Project’s social media platforms in order to maximize prevention messages and engage key constituencies.

Prior to joining the Hawaii Meth Project, Nguyen was the manager for fundraising and special events at the American Diabetes Association, Hawaii Chapter and also served as the volunteer coordinator for the Hawaiian Humane Society.

She was in charge of recruiting and managing volunteers, developing corporate partnerships, and creating online and print marketing materials to drive event participation.

Nguyen is a 2006 graduate of the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California, where she earned her bachelor’s of science degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing management.

The Hawaii Meth Project is a non-profit organization that implements large-scale, research-based campaigns and community action programs to reduce methamphetamine use in the state.

Central to its integrated campaigns is MethProject.org—a definitive source for information about meth for teens. The Hawaii Meth Project is affiliated with The Partnership at Drugfree.org, a national non-profit organization working to help families solve the problem of teen substance abuse.

— Find out more:
www.HawaiiMethProject.org