Young Advocates of San Bernardinos Work Showcased

The community work of the Young Advocates of San Bernardino to make changes that benefit the city was the focus of a reception and dinner at Cal State San Bernardino’s University Village on June 4. The free inaugural Young Advocates Reception Dinner, co-hosted with the Public Relations Student Society of America, aimed to bring awareness to the work the Young Advocates have done to reduce under-age drinking and substance abuse among San Bernardino’s youth, organizers said. For example, in 2014 and in May, the Young Advocates, consisting of CSUSB students, have conducted surveys of liquor stores to determine how many clerks actually check identification when alcohol was purchased. The club began as the Summer Sober Project in June 2014, with the aim of improving the health and safety of San Bernardino’s youth by reducing underage drinking and substance abuse, as well as educate the community about healthy behaviors and working toward policy changes to promote that. It was later renamed the Young Advocates and received its charter from the university’s Student Leadership and Development Office in January 2015. Its current officers are Amanda Balido, president; Gabriela Casasola, vice president; Lupita Aguilar, secretary; and Andrew Senteno, treasurer. In addition to the dinner, the there was the opportunity drawings for a television, digital camera, tablet and other items. For more information, contact to Kassandra Johnston at kmjohnston5@gmail.com or Amanda Balido at SByoungadvocates@gmail.com.