2009
Demetrius Terry STARS Conference Testimony
My name is Demetrius Terry and I currently have the privilege of serving as Mr. Free Teens USA. On May 30th, 2009, at the 11th annual Free Teens banquet I was crowned as King. I was so excited about this great achievement. Upon winning my Title, Mariah Ralph who was crowned Ms. Free Teens USA 2009 and I were chosen to attend the STARS national conference in Colorado that took place on
June 28 – July 1.
I was very excited because for one I never traveled to Colorado before. Also, it was my first time ever riding an airplane. Once we arrived at Colorado State University, I saw there were a lot of kids there. At first, I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone. But as the conference went on it became much better.
At the conference, I learned a lot of things. I signed up for 5 workshops. They were: “Never give up on your dreams,” “Choices of a Champion,” “Road Signs,” “Who’s the Man?” and Join the Abstinence Movement.”
My most favorite workshop was “Who’s the Man?” which was taught by Johan. He explained how the world characterizes men in the wrong ways. How all men should be tough and show no emotions. And also the three C’s-cars, clothes, and cash. Which is wrong. He said men should be showing compassion for their wife’s lives even though they may be providing. And if a man is not providing for his wife then leave him alone.
Also I had the opportunity to meet NFL star, Keith Davis. He told us the sad story of his life and how he made it. The whole conference was based on the message of abstaining from sex until marriage. It was just incredible to see over 500 teens come together from all over the country to share ideas. The program showed me to never give up on my dreams. It also showed me that abstinence is the best way to go. They showed me leadership skills and ideas to bring back to my community and high school.
Free Teens 11th Annual Banquet
View more pictures here.
Free Teens Pageant Competition 2009
View more pictures here.
6 Married Couples Honored at “Love for a Lifetime” Valentine’s Breakfast
On Saturday, February 14, 2009, Free Teens of Paterson celebrated its first annual “Love for a Lifetime” event, at the Brownstone, with about 80 guests gathered to honor 6 married couples who had been married from one to four decades!
Read more and view photos...
Free Teens USA Back-2-School Kick-off held at Lincoln High School
A group of 200 youth pledging to abstain from sex until marriage met on October 18, 2008 at Jersey City’s Lincoln High School. Nate Person, a student at Lincoln High School who was crowned “Mr. Free Teens King” of 2008, and Brittnee Marsh, a student at Jersey City’s ( name of school) who was crowned “Miss Free TeensPrincess” of 2008, were the co-MCs for this high-spirited, all-day event. The Grand Chef was Lincoln’s own Joshua Murrell, who was also the 2006 “Mr. Free Teens King.”The youth, including Free Teens club members from Jersey City, Paterson and surrounding New Jersey communities, as well as Mt. Vernon, Harlem and Yonkers, NY, participated in Drama Workshops to learn how to deal with the pressures of today’s teen culture. Jerome Colwell, representing the Jersey City Community That Cares Coalition, and Project Director of Meals On Wheels, shared a word of encouragement to the students. The founder of Free Teens USA, Dr. Richard A. Panzer, also addressed the members. Free Teens USA reaches 10,000 teens annually in urban and suburban areas of NY and NJ with messages of healthy relationships, self-leadership, and service to others contained in its nationally recognized Relationship Intelligence education materials.
After-school programs include Free Teens Clubs and Media Activities, which provide youth with opportunities to discuss how to deal with our culture’s challenges to a healthy lifestyle, to serve their communities, and to engage in media production including writing and recording music, dance, spoken word and drama performance, visual art and video recording and editing. A new Club was recently formed at the Miller Branch Library. Those interested in learning more about the Free Teens clubs in Jersey City should contact Julie Edwards, Free Teens Director, Jersey City Area @ 201-344-5176 or via email:FreeTeensOFJerseyCity@verizon.net.
View photos...
2008
Free Teens Banquet 2008
Watch video highlights from the event!
 |
Mayor Bret Schundler |
Free Teens USA held its 10th Annual Banquet at the Polish Center in Yonkers, NY on May 31, 2008, celebrating the 10th year of club activities for youth in the New York/New Jersey area. Former Jersey City
Mayor Bret Schundler, who spoke at the first banquet in 1999, returned to share inspiration with the 300 youth and parents who attended. John Boykin II, representing Mt. Vernon Mayor Clinton Young, Jr. also attended.
Other highlights included the Free Teens Choice Awards, presented by members of the Free Teens Board of Directors to club members who demonstrated high personal standards and outstanding service in their communities as well as performances from club members from Jersey City, Newark, and Mt. Vernon. Youth from Eastside High School involved with the Free Teens CultureShock music program also performed.
Dr. Richard Panzer, Free Teens founder and director, advised the female Free Teens youth to be proud of their inner beauty and to not let that be taken away by someone only interested in their physical appearance. He advised the male Free Teens youth to be proud of their inner strength and to use their strength to be protectors of their female friends and family members.
 |
Finalists in this year’s Free Teens Pageant included: King Contestant: Nate Person; Queen Contestants: Takyla Spann from Yonkers and Mariah Jones from Harlem; Prince Contestants: Daniel Silvestre from Mt. Vernon and Donte Robinson from Paterson; Princess Contestants: Kendria Smith, Erisha Harrison, Lorraine Harris and Nia Fears from Mt. Vernon and Brittnee Marsh from Jersey City.
Dr. and Mrs. Panzer crowned Nate Person as Mr. Free Teens 2008. Nate showed a multimedia presentation about the Clair Memorial Free Teens club he’d created. Nate’s interest in video and multimedia production was sparked by a Free Teens Media Summit he attended two years ago.
Ms. Free Teens 2007 (Queen) Dominique Hart, who is currently attending the University of Virginia, crowned Takyla Spann, Ms. Free Teens 2008 Queen. Takyla gave a moving testimony about her personal journey towards recommitting her life to abstinence until marriage.
Ms. Free Teens 2007 (Princess) Fanny Sesay crowned Brittnee Marsh as Ms. Free Teens 2008. Brittnee spoke about seeing other girls in her neighborhood becoming single mothers and making a decision to avoid all that “baby momma drama.” Donte Robinson was crowned as Free Teens 2008 Prince and gave a powerful musical performance of “You are the wind beneath my wings!”
The evening concluded with CultureMachine director Diego Costa leading the room in singing the “Youth of the World” theme song and a Free Teens “Dance On.”
|
