Whether it be learning ways to save the planet in your everyday life or getting useful tips to protect yourself against cyber bullying, the 2010 Make A Difference Conference had a variety of useful information to present to the area youth.

Over 500 students from 15 high schools across the Iron Range attended the conference, which is the largest youth conference in Northern Minnesota, held on February 17 at Fortune Bay Resort on Lake Vermillion.

This year’s conference featured nationally recognized motivational speaker Craig Hillier. Hillier used a fun and upbeat approach to talk about the challenges of growing up and how he experienced it in his own life. He easily captured the interest of the youth attendants with his powerful life lessons that he presented in a way anyone could relate to. He was well respected by the youth who appreciated that he did not force the idea that he had all of the answers to today’s challenges, rather he used what he knew to try and motivate them on a positive path to the future.

Along with Hillier, nine other workshops were available to attend throughout the day which were planned and presented by students from eight different area schools. These workshops included: Welcome to the Future- a look at what it takes to become a humanitarian, Going Green- ways people can help save the planet by living a “green life” and what other people and companies are already doing, Cruisin‘ For A Bruisin’- educating teenage drivers about the dangers of distractions like iPods and cell phones, Spread the Word... Spread the Love- ways to live a happier life through acts of kindness, One Slap Too Many- signs of a “Bad Relationship” and the steps someone could take to get out of it, The Best Friend You Never Wanted!- the dangers of alcohol addiction and the journey a local youth took to sobriety, Cyber Bullying- ways people can help stop bullying over modern technology like networking sites and texting, That’s Cheap- how to get the most bang for your buck, and Somebody’s Watching You- protect yourself against internet predators.

The overall goal of the conference is to not only educate our local youth about the pressing issues of the time, but also inspire them to go out and use this information to better their own school and community. Since this event is put on by Iron Range Youth In Action (IRYA), the information from the workshops are being discussed and researched by each of the participating school’s IRYA groups, so they too can put on some sort of educational activity for their respective schools. Many groups started the next day at school after the conference.

The Make A Difference Conference is the largest youth conference in Northern Minnesota, and takes a whole team of sponsors and volunteers to help put it on. The conference is organized by IRYA, but it is thanks to the large list of private companies who donate money for the event that enable this it to reach this level of success. It is also encouraging to the students to see their communities investing in their future like this, which is exactly what they are doing through these donations. The conference is driven to better the lives of those who attend who will then spread that to those around them.

This year’s conference took a team of over 50 adult and youth volunteers to help set-up the event the day before. With maybe an hour of sleep and many cups of caffeine, the group works rigorously decorating the main ball room, setting up the stage and lights, organizing workshop stations, and finalizing presentations and displays. It is amazing to see how well things start coming together at 4:00 in the morning.

Through all of the workshops, presentations, and speakers the Make A Difference Conference is able to do exactly what its name implies: to make a difference. The youth are given the information and tools to shape the world around them, and direct it down a positive path to the future. Youth are the future, so why not have them active and making a difference already?