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Ocala - The Florida Department of Health in Marion County's BRAZEN program is set to host its signature event for pre-teens and teens on Friday.
On Friday, June 14, BRAZEN will host its annual Summer Youth Rally from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Silver Springs Shores Recreation Center (590 Silver Road, Ocala). The event is for youths ages 11 to 19 and will feature guest speaker Julie Marie Carrier. Carrier will present, "The Power of Peer-suasion."
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The free rally will include music, lunch, games, and more. Prizes for participants include shirts, gift cards to local eateries, Sky Zone gift certificates and a grand prize of a laptop computer. The rally's free lunch is sponsored by the Marion County Children's Alliance.
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BRAZEN began more than 20 years ago in Marion County as an abstinence-only program. Today the program continues as a grant-funded sexual risk avoidance program that works with youths and adults. BRAZEN seeks to empower pre-teens and teens with important factual information to help them make healthy decisions. To do this, the program helps youths set goals, learn skills to overcome social and peer pressure, develop healthy relationships, avoid the dangers of alcohol, and avoid pregnancy and STDs.
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The program works with local middle and high schools and community partners. Program staff are available to speak to community groups and can tailor presentations and workshops to a specific topic if there is a need.
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For more information about the BRAZEN Summer Youth Rally or about the BRAZEN program, please contact Kim Pike at 352-644-2714.
