PENNSYLVANIA TEENS TAKE ACTION WITH FCCLA

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) recently held its 56th Annual State Leadership Conference on March 6-8, 2002 at the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center in Lancaster, PA. Twenty-five students from Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC) attended the conference. These students along with many others from around the state had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, including workshops on public relations - communication; career connection - culinary; and student body - kickboxing.

Workshops were not the only attraction, however. Students also had the opportunity to participate in a variety of Star Events (Students Taking Action for Recognition). In these events, students must identify their concerns; set goals; form a plan; act on their plan; and follow up on their project. One of the Star Events for the Berks Career and Technology Center's FCCLA chapter benefited Berks Women in Crisis and new mothers at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center. Overall, BCTC students brought home ten gold medals and fifteen silver medals.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become strong leaders and addresses important personal, family, work and societal issues through family and consumer sciences education. The organization has involved more than nine million youth since its founding in 1945.

FCCLA is unique among student organizations because its programs are planned and implemented by members. It is the only national in-school organization with the family as its central focus. Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members to become strong leaders in their families, careers and communities..