AREA STUDENTS AT BLACK CAUCUS WORKSHOP

Youth from 10 Bootheel towns headed to Columbia Thursday to learn more about government- and youth-related issues and their role as community leaders.

Sherry Maxwell, coordinator of the Lilbourn-based Kids Beat program, said about 90 young people affiliated with the organization she founded will attend the 12th annual Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Youth Leadership Workshop in Columbia through Saturday. Six of the 90 Bootheel participants are Cape Girardeau residents.

Kids Beat is a prevention program for limited resource children. Program chapters can be found in Poplar Bluff, Kennett, Homestown, Hayti Heights, Portageville, Lilbourn, New Madrid, Sikeston, Charleston and Cape Girardeau.

Maxwell said the purpose of the retreat is to allow legislators to hear opinions of youth on such issues as welfare reform and health management. Participants will also make sure the rural opinions of Bootheel youth balance out the more urban opinions voiced by participants from St. Louis and Kansas City.

"For the first time, we'll be taking more students than the bigger cities, like Kansas City and St. Louis," said Maxwell. "I think it's important that our voices be heard when they want to know how the youth feel. We may be separated from the capital by a lot of miles, but we've got ideas and opinions and we want them to be heard."

Maxwell said participants will also address issues such as teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol use and teen violence during the retreat. Seminars on enrolling in college and controlling finances will also be featured.

Marion Truebon Alford, 19, of Cape Girardeau hopes to become a more effective voter and to learn how legislative welfare reform proposals will affect churches and other nonprofit agencies in Southeast Missouri.

"I think it will help me understand leadership and people running for office," he said. "I also think before welfare was out, everyone used to come to the churches for help. By me going and learning this weekend, I think I"ll be able to help out on these issues here at home."

Other students said they hope to gain insight on college opportunities during the retreat. "I think it'll be a good opportunity to get scholarships and information about colleges," said Brandy Bird, 18, of Cape Girardeau. "My main desire will be just to learn and have fun."

Three Cape Girardeau participants will be featured during a talent show held during the retreat. The Liberty Trio, featuring members Yalaka Totton, 16, Ramona Robinson, 19, and Janine Wilson, 15, will perform a gospel selection at the retreat. "Mrs. Maxwell heard us once singing at church and asked us if we'd be interested," said Robinson. "I feel pretty comfortable right now, but I may get nervous when I get up there. I just think this'll be a good time and I'll learn a lot."

The Rev. William Bird, pastor of Greater Dimension Church in Cape Girardeau, said he thinks the weekend will help the young people develop opinions they can put to use in their communities. "I think it'll give them a more keen interest in government," he said. "Youth breeds enthusiasm, and I think they'll learn more about the value of the vote and why youth should be more involved in their communities."