250 Teens to Get Advocacy Training, Visit Lawmakers at Youth Leadership Conference in Albany

ALBANY, NY (03/11/2010)(readMedia)-- Hundreds of teen activists from around the state will gather at the Empire State Plaza on Monday for the annual Youth Leadership Conference hosted by Family Planning Advocates of New York State (FPA). Teens will represent Planned Parenthoods and other family planning centers, the New York Civil Liberties Union, high school civics classes, LGBT youth groups and youth development programs.

The conference focuses on making sure the Techonology Generation is ready to employ ALL necessary advocacy tools to influence change. This includes online social media and equally important personal contact with lawmakers and their staff.

"Something that has not changed with advancing technology is the need to be present at the Capitol from time to time and have face-to-face meetings in Albany and in district offices with our elected officials to advance our causes," said M. Tracey Brooks, FPA president and CEO. "We will help our teens develop a greater comfort level with in-person advocacy and a host of other activist tools."

Keynote speaker is sexologist, host of LatinoSexuality.com

Bianca Laureano is a LatiNegra sexologist, consultant, educator and activist, and she hosts the popular site LatinoSexuality.com. Her address is entitled, "Respect the Unexpected." She'll enlighten the teens about the power they have to successfully engage in multiple forms of activism to achieve positive change now and in their future.

In her work, Laureano focuses on representations of the sexuality of people of color in media and popular culture, Latina feminisms, positive youth development and sex positivity. She is an adjunct instructor and a freelance writer based in New York City.

Morning and afternoon workshop topics include:

• State and Federal Public Policy Update on Sexual and Reproductive Rights

• Advocacy 101

• Now What? Activism After High School and Beyond

• Organizing and Social Change

• Know Your Rights

Workshop leaders represent:

• Family Planning Advocates

• Planned Parenthood

• New York Civil Liberties Union

• Legal Action Center

• Medicaid Matters New York

• Sexuality Information and Education Counsel of the United States (SIECUS)

A detailed schedule can be found here: http://www.getthefactsny.org/YouthLeadershipConference2010Program.html