Healthy Relationships: Lessons for Teens Taught by Teens

By Reginald Hammond, Emergency Management Specialist, Region 4

On April 18, I gave the welcome address at a Teen Relationship Summit focused on Healthy Dating and Marriage. This event was hosted by the New Life Church & Community Center in Decatur, Georgia. The theme of the event was “If Love is a Game, Then Check Your Mate.”

The event was presented by More Than Conquerors, Incorporated. This is an organization that benefits from an Office of Family Assistance grant. What impressed me about this event was that the entire program was presented by youth, for youth. Adults provided the opening and closing. 

The remaining time was spent with youth sharing messages of no sex before marriage and violence prevention in the home. These messages were conveyed through music provided by a deejay, skits and games. Messages were also shared by an occasional gift provided to those in the audience willing to come to the stage and successfully explain what they learned.

I was impressed by the summit’s upbeat and energetic atmosphere supported by music. Along with the host, there was always a deejay on stage playing music before, after and sometimes during the activities. There were some technical glitches. But both performers and the audience handled them with good-natured humor. This relaxed atmosphere made for a better time for everyone.

We need to be able to effectively communicate with youth if we are to accomplish the Administration for Children and Families vision of “children, youth, families, individuals and communities who are resilient, safe, healthy and economically secure.” Based on what I saw, we must change our methods to engage more of the youth’s senses through the use of music, color, motion and energy. Considering that most teens have spent years being lectured on one subject after another, we may need to come from behind our desk and meet them “where they live.” We need to do this to prevent such outcomes as human trafficking, homelessness, violence in the home and out of wedlock pregnancies.

For more information on More Than Conquers go to http://mtciga.org/