Eastern Illinois University successfully hosted the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute (CGTI) Summer Conference over the summer. As they have done for the past 51 years, youth leaders from across the state and around the world met at EIU to participate in the conference and work together.
This year’s conference ran from July 13-17, allowing like-minded teenagers to develop leadership skills and address various needs in their schools and communities. All participants above 12th grade are also welcome to apply as Volunteer Staff for the Conference, which is usually held the third week of July every year.
Generation Lead, a program of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (IABH), sponsored a day at the Conference, presenting workshops and helping with the resource fair, which provided opportunities, career and college information, prevention resources and more to the attendees. Generation Lead focuses on educating youth and communities through prevention strategies to reduce substance misuse.
Schaumburg High School has its own Snowball club, a student-driven program supported by staff that promotes leadership development to encourage responsible decision-making and positive peer influence.
“CGTI has given me a safe place to call my second home and I love the program,” Michelle Belzowka, a senior at Schaumburg High school remarked. “I’ve met so many cool people, both peers and adults, that I’ve built a lasting relationship with.” This summer was her third time attending the conference.
The attendees develop their leadership skills through small group meetings, workshops, and large group activities. In small groups, students worked on certain skills like critical thinking and decision making, while in workshops, students had the chance to hear from speakers from around the world.Last year, D. Marcos, a motivational speaker, spoke at the General Sessions about finding purpose and passion. Lastly, in larger-group settings, students stepped out of their comfort zones and made many connections with other teen participants.
“Attending CGTI has opened my eyes to what it truly means to be a leader and how to help people be the best versions of themselves. CGTI is a place a lot of people, including myself, can call home, everyone you meet is so welcoming,” said Mckell Mazzacano, a senior at Schaumburg High school who attended the Conference for the second time this summer.
According to CGTI’s impact assessments, 100% of participants leave with an action plan to bring back to their schools and communities while 98% believe these plans will have a tangible impact during the school year.
“CGTI helps me strengthen my leadership skills and teaches me how to bring those skills back to my school through our Operation Snowball Team. Then at school, our Snowball Team helps students find their passions and find communities like CGTI that are empowering and welcoming, and ultimately leave a positive impact on everyone,” said Bella Brenzinger, a youth advocate on the Operation Snowball Inc. Board of Directors. This was also her second year as a Snowball director.
Ultimately, CGTI concentrates on teaching youth how to make healthy choices and trains leaders to help shape their communities for the better.
“This summer, I returned as part of the Youth Staff, and I’m glad to have given back to a program that’s given me so much. Through each level of CGTI, I’ve been able to help others make healthier choices by simply being there for them, leading by example, and creating a space where they feel safe, heard, and valued,” said Victoria Conde, a new Snowball Director.