One of the highlights of the 19th Annual CADCA Leadership Forum was listening to Peter Block's plenary session talk. He talked about creating public conversations that are not based on what is wrong with our communities and our youth, which focus on blame and deficiencies, but to focus on what is right with our communities and our youth and to build on those strengths. Community conversations that can create positive change should be about:-- how citizens can take ownership of their communities;
-- what possibilities exist, focusing on the positive;
-- commitment to the community;
-- what gift each individual has to offer (it's not about the money). "Youth are gifts waiting to be delivered."
Check out www.technologyinprevention.blogspot.com -- LaDonna Coy has a good post about his presentation.
Peter Block's talk was preceded by an invigorating presentation by Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services. She spoke passionately about the need for agencies and organizations to work together on common issues -- "communities of solution".
