Miss Michigan to Join Drug-Free Discussion at L'Anse Creuse Dialogue Day

Given her platform to encourage discussion of teen drug abuse, organizers of the L’Anse Creuse Community Action Coalition's annual Dialogue Day say Miss Michigan Angela Venditti was a natural choice to serve as the keynote speaker of this year's event.

“We are thrilled to have Angela with us this year as her platform is ‘Above the Influence: Keeping Kids Drug Free,’ which is a main objective of our Coalition,” said Julie Rickel, chairperson for Dialogue Day, in a statement.

Started more than a decade ago, Dialogue Day is designed to bring students and community leaders together to freely talk about issues such as personal empowerment, bullying, healthy teen relationships, drug use/abuse and more.

Divided into small groups by topic, both adult and student members are asked to engage in open and honest discussion.

“It is exciting to see business leaders, parents, teachers and other community partners come together in open discussions with our middle school and high school students to affect change,” added Rickel.

Around 100 middle and high school students from all L'Anse Creuse middle and high schools typically participate in the event, as well as local governent, law enforcement and business leaders.

This year's event will be held Feb. 22 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 39900 Harper Ave., in Clinton Township. 

Venditti, a Shelby Township native who was crowned Miss Michigan 2012, competed in the Miss America pageant in January. She has pledged that upon the conclusion of her reign, she will have "given youth in our state the tools to live above the influence and the desire to pass them on to their peers" and will be "regarded as a representative who could effectively establish serious dialogue about drugs and decision-making," according to the Miss Michigan website.

What topics would you like to hear discussed on Dialogue Day?