Union parish Alliance for Community Transformation (U-ACT) will host a week of activities throughout various Union Parish schools in honor of Red Ribbon Week — a national campaign for drug and alcohol abuse awareness.
U-ACT is a program of the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana and is funded by Northeast Delta Human Services Authority.
Events will culminate on Friday with Wear Red Day.
The kickoff event was Monday at Union Parish High School with a performance from “Big” Al Cherry, a gospel and hip-hop recording artist from northeastern Louisiana.
Other activities include a poster contest, pledge and cookie days, a door decorating contest and informational sessions about the dangers of drugs.
On Friday, students will wear red at participating schools, and a balloon release will be scheduled at Union Parish Elementary school.
U-ACT and the Children’s Coalition are asking the community to support students in their pledge to be safe, healthy, and drug free by wearing red on Friday.

The Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana hosted a forum to discuss the Louisiana Platform for Children from 4-5 p.m. Tuesday at the Coalition's main office, 1363 Louisville Ave., in Monroe. The report recently was released by the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families.
The forum featured Louisiana Partnership for Children Executive Director Sherry Guarisco, Director of the Louisiana Budget Project Jan Moller and 4th Judicial Juvenile Drug Court Judge Sharon Marchman.
The newly published Louisiana Platform for Children document includes policy briefs on child health, early care and education, social/emotional development, developmental disabilities, child welfare, juvenile justice, family economic stability and children's budgets.
"There are several groups in Louisiana whose work focuses on various aspects of child well-being. This report is an attempt to put all that expertise into a single document that policymakers can use as a guide in 2016 and beyond," said Carmen Weisner, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers/LA Chapter.
The platform identifies needs and gaps in services, the importance of evidence-based practices, and also provides data to help legislators and citizens determine where to provide scarce state dollars for maximum return on investment.
"The platform shows policymakers why it's so important for Louisiana to have a stable and adequate revenue structure," said Jan Moller, director of the non-partisan Louisiana Budget Project. "It's a reminder that our tax dollars help provide vital services that families and children need to be successful."
Organizations participating in the development of the Platform for Children include: the Agenda for Children, the Louisiana Budget Project, the Louisiana Center for Children's Rights, louisianachildren.org, the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families, the National Association for Social Workers — Louisiana Chapter and One Voice Louisiana.

MONROE, LA- (KNOE 8 NEWS)- Sometimes kids can have stressful lives, but today wasn't the case.
Kids got the chance to let loose and have fun at the "All Children's Day" event on the River Market. 
It was put together by the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana.
Kids got the chance to try improv acting, use arts & crafts, and even see a magician's act.
There was also a pumpkin contest.
Many parents are just glad to see their kids have a good time.
Lori Patrick is a mom and says, "There's nowhere to go around town here, so it's a good environment and a good place to come."
There were many winners in the pumpkin contest.
Pumpkins were categorized from the scariest to the most funny looking pumpkin..

Community and business leaders join area students in participating in Unity Day on Wednesday, October 21.

The event raises awareness of the issue of bullying.  Children's Coalition Early Childhood Life Skills Coordinator Tammy Washington says society still has difficultly in giving proper attention to acts of bullying.  "Many times it gets overlooked.  People need to know that bullying is a very harmful form of social interaction," she said.

Recent data shows about 64 percent of bullying incidents among children go unreported.  Washington says most children are unsure about trusting someone enough to tell them about being bullied.  "They sometimes feel they won't be taken seriously, or that nothing will be done."  
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She says more awareness has led to better intervention, and events like Unity Day help promote support to those who may have been subjected to bullying.  Washington says everyone is encourages to wear orange on October 21, as a show of support against bullying.   

MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Middle and high school students from across North East Louisiana got a chance to learn a little bit about volunteerism, leadership, and service learning at ULM. This is the first time the Children's Coalition of North East Louisiana has had a Youth Leadership Summit. The coalition brought in different speakers to talk to 200 youth about alcohol abuse, depression, and respect.
This 5-hour summit is the first one of it's kind in Ouachita Parish and the Children's Coalition is hoping this program will help guide students through their adult life.

More than 250 middle and high school students learned about making a positive impact in their school and the community Tuesday.  

Motivational speaker Logan Weber urged the group to use encouraging language, expect opposition, but never give up on their goals.  "It is choosing to use positive words to speak to people in and around your life, that makes a difference," he tells the attentive crowd.
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West Monroe ninth-grader Kayla Herrington told her mom she wasn’t sure if she was the right person to be a part of the Ouachita Youth Leadership Summit.  "I expected my friend to get in and my mom said not to put myself down.  After hearing what he had to say, I don't feel down.  I feel like I can do anything," said Herrington.

The session invited applicants from over 20 local schools to participate.  The future leaders were reminded of self-awareness, creating good relationships, and finding ways to serve.  Herrington has one group in mind she hopes to be a part of during her high school years. "The Civitan Club, where they do a lot of community service," she said.
Fellow freshman Sam Gray feels he can lend support to those struggling with school work.  "If people needed help with math, I could help tutor them."

The summit puts a focus on inspiring and instructing students about the value of leadership and volunteering.  Speakers share their knowledge about key issues in relationships and substance abuse, as well as health and nutrition. 
Children’s Coalition Youth Development Coordinator Jan Daniels says most students have questions when it comes to being an example among their peers.  "What children are asking for and what they're needing is leadership skills.  They are wanting to learn how to handle certain situations."

The coalition cites the website DoSomething.org in noting 93 percent of youth want to volunteer, but do not know how to begin the process.  The students learn about developing a personal action plan for community service.  

A balance of service and knowing your individual strengths is an essential part of the process.  "I think probably the key point is self-awareness," says speaker Melanie Massey.  She wants the students to realize their individual skills and abilities, and how it benefits a group as a whole.  

Massey includes a strengths test for students to discover those traits.  "Some will really take this to heart today, and go home and be really excited about it.  Others might go back to school and encourage their teacher, or club leader, to let others take it and see how they can best use their gifts," she said.

The summit was coordinated to take place in October, which is recognized as Volunteerism Awareness Month.  

More than 250 teens from seventh- through 12th-grade met Tuesday at the University of Louisiana at Monroe for the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana's first Ouachita Youth Leadership Summit.
Children's Coalition youth development coordinator Jan Daniels said the 256 teens were chosen by principals and counselors from Ouachita Parish, Monroe City, private and parochial schools.
Daniels said the Coalition got a grant from the Junior League of Monroe to start the event, and she saw the need after spending time in Monroe City and parish schools.