SOMERVILLE – Somerset County teens in grades 7 to 12 are invited to attend Somerset County’s 18th annual Youth Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m.  The theme this year is “Survivor.”  The conference is sponsored by the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Somerset County Youth Council.

The conference will be held in Conference Room 1 of the Human Services Building, located at 27 Warren St., Somerville, N.J. 08876.  Seating is limited to the first 70 students to register. No walk-ins will be permitted.

Admission is free and includes refreshments.  Participants are asked to bring a can of food, which will be donated to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. 

Certificates will be awarded to participants for 2.5 hours of community-service learning. 

Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, youth council liaison, will offer welcome remarks.  He will be followed by Somerset County Human Services Director Michael Frost and keynote speaker Amirah James of the Somerset County Youth Council who will talk about the “Survivor” theme and the importance of being yourself.

            “This is the 18th consecutive year that we are hosting a youth conference, which will  provide useful information and strategies for our young people,” said Freeholder Palmer.  “The conference is a fun way to meet other teens, learn lifelong skills and discuss relevant topics of interest and concern.

            “This year’s program focuses around leadership, bullying, time management, drug prevention and stress management,” he said.  “These topics are both timely and timeless.” 

The conference planning committee consists of youth council members from Bridgewater-Raritan and William Annin middle schools; Central Jersey College Prep Charter and Kent Place schools; and Bernards, Bridgewater-Raritan, Franklin, Hillsborough, Montgomery, North Plainfield, Ridge, Watchung Hills Regional and the Somerset County Vocational and Technical high schools.