It is often correctly said that young people are our future, but we believe that, in some instances, securing a bright future means getting young people involved in the present.

It is important to have some clear, strong expectations of them, and in the course of their training, sometimes the best way for them to learn is by doing. There was a great example of this in our July 21 edition.

In one story, we shared how the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (VDABC) was holding the Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project’s (YADAPP) week-long conference at Longwood University.

VDABC Public Relations Specialist Valerie Hubbard said the organization was excited by the strong attendance and said the week “is really for the kids, the teams, to develop their plans that they’re going to take back to their schools, to their communities and stop teen use of drugs and alcohol.”

Virginia Deputy Secretary of Education Nathalie Molliet-Ribet, who gave opening remarks at the conference, said YADAPP has been a driving force for positive change in the commonwealth.

“Now more than ever, we need students like those participating in this program: they are exemplary leaders who are willing to stand up for what they believe in even in the face of peer pressure, and who are committed to helping solve one of our society’s greatest challenges,” Molliet-Ribet said.

We commend VDABC for facilitating this project that gives young people training so they can make important contributions with it in their schools and communities.