Operation UNITE is hosting one of seven regional “Empowering the Next Generation” youth rallies on Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at The Center for Rural Development.

All sixth-grade students within UNITE’s 33-county service region are invited to attend. The youth rally will feature an interactive keynote presentation from Youth to Youth International on the power of making the right choices in life.

In addition, the event will:

• Inspire and invigorate youth to join an existing UNITE Club or to start a new UNITE Club at their school. These clubs provide skills in leadership, citizenship, and resistance to negative peer pressure.
• Provide students an overview of UNITE’s summer initiatives, such as Camp UNITE and Shoot Hoops Not Drugs camps.

Operation UNITE is a collaborative model striving to prevent abuse of drugs and facilitate recovery. The non-profit organization creates strategic partnerships, provides leadership, promotes education, coordinates treatment, and supports law enforcement.