Southern Local seeks input for youth campaign

Southern Local School District officials are seeking community input for a campaign aimed at helping youth recognize that “YOU Matter Here.”

Kristy Sampson, the district’s federal programs coordinator, is organizing a brainstorming session at 1 p.m. Feb. 25 in the media center at Southern Local Jr./Sr. High School. School staff and community members will discuss ways to support children and strengthen youth development. The meeting was originally scheduled for January but was canceled because of weather.

The effort is in partnership with the Columbiana County Educational Service Center. PAX Program Manager Melissa Galbreath will present information tied to a developmental assets survey completed by junior high and high school students ages 12-18.

Sampson said the survey helps identify which “developmental assets” — building blocks that support healthy, caring and responsible citizenship — are strong among students and which areas still need support. The most recent results highlighted three key areas of need: a sense of belonging and self-identity, parental presence and power, and community involvement.

“It’s an initial planning meeting with some staff and community input,” Sampson said. “The CCESC works with school districts to issue the developmental assets survey, and they identified three main pillars that kids in Columbiana County tend to need support in within their communities, family, and schools. They developed the ‘YOU Matter Here’ slogan to put together all of these pieces. Melissa Galbreath will present at the meeting in February to review the county and Southern Local data and then we’ll look at trends and identify what assets need support in our school and community.”

Sampson said Galbreath first shared the initiative during a superintendents meeting, and Southern leaders followed up with an administrative team discussion to begin local planning.

“We identified that there was not a third space for the kids to hang out and develop positive assets outside of school or home and how we could create positive, safe spaces to help them build developmental skills,” Sampson said, adding the long-term goal is to provide activities and supports that benefit youth.

Space is limited. Community members interested in participating can contact Sampson at the administrative office by calling 330-679-2343, ext. 4203, or emailing kristy.sampson@slindians.org.