Dear Editor: "Not impossible, but I'M possible!" was the vibrant message given by Keith Brown, the "Motivator of the Millennium" to just under 100 teens at the recent "Teens Keeping It Real" summit at Newton High School, and on behalf of the Newton County Community Partnership we want to thank all the volunteers and funders who made this conference happen. The goal of the Summit was to motivate, educate and inspire Newton's youths for success at home, in school and with employment, and everyone left more than satisfied. Youth were given an opportunity for leadership and excellence and they spoke up to lead. Adults were given the opportunity to be a "hope" or their "nope", and they stepped up to "hope".

Newton's own, Sheriff Ezell Brown, spent the day talking with teens and the laws that impact them, while Chris Garris a former gang member, unveiled truths of life on the streets. Poetic Magic, a group of poets from Valdosta showed students how to experience the wonders and challenges of life and understand the importance of self expression. Lemuel "Life" LaRoche shared how teens can affect change and address the difficult social, political, religious and spiritual issues that they face daily. Janet Schulte of East Metro Health Department gave straight answers to difficult life style questions and choosing healthy lifestyles. Volunteers from Real Life, also known nationally as Life Hurts...God Heals, were available for teens struggling due to decisions they had made or consequences of the decisions their parents made.
Join us- in the words of Keith Brown- to keep it "CRUNK- Consciously Receiving Understandings of New Knowledge" by visiting www.newtonpartnership.org and www.facebook.com/handsonnewton. to see clips of speakers and activities and to get more information on upcoming youth activities sponsored by Newton Partnership and Hands On Newton. Tuesday, November 17th is the next youth meeting.

This is the season of the Covington/Newton County United Way campaign. United Way donations were a primary source of funding for this summit which as the first of an ongoing series of youth development programs designed with teens. Please give as you can this year and continue to support of the many worthy programs the United Way funds locally.
Other partners included the Newton County School System, The Newton County Juvenile Court, the Newton County Sheriff's Office and The City of Covington Police. We could not have used Newton High School without the support of Dr. Sams who stayed all day providing access to resources available only through the school and support wherever needed.