Youth Advisory Board students line up for a group photograph before splitting off into groups to work together in team building activities on a stickball field in Durant.
Youth Advisory Board holds yearly conference
By Brandon Frye
Choctaw Nation
Durant, Okla. - The Youth Advisory Board Annual Leadership Conference offered lessons, growth, and fun for 300 students from across the 10 ½ counties of the Choctaw Nation June 23 and 24 at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant.
This conference is the one time a year YAB students from all 15 chapters are given the opportunity to gather and interact with their fellow young leaders. This year’s conference included a mixture of work and play for the students, who got involved with cultural events such as Choctaw dancing, cooperated during trust building exercises, and educated their peers from other YAB chapters.
In a feat of leadership, each chapter prepared and presented lessons covering topics of their choice. Shonnie Hall, leader for the LeFlore chapter of YAB, said presentations allowed YAB members to talk about what is important to them–covering issues like teen dating violence, bullying, and texting and driving.
“These activities during the conference help train students in leadership skills, push them forward, and challenge them to do more,” Hall said. “They are trying to be better leaders and help within their communities. They also act as mentors, impacting each other’s lives in positive ways.”
YAB is a program available to Choctaws and non-Choctaws alike. Students in grades 8-12 are welcome to join. Contact Shonnie Hall at shall@choctawnation.com for more information.