Summer Institute Recap

This year's Summer Institute Conference was a success thanks to all of our attendees, sponsors, speakers, vendors and staff! If you weren't able to attend this year, here's what went down...

Sarah Brown, CEO, National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned
Pregnancy, and Forrest Alton, CEO, SC Campaign, have "Fireside Chat"
during the opening luncheon keynote address

Sarah Brown accepts this years Murray Vincent Award, pictured with
past recipients Rev. Don Flowers, Michelle Nimmons and Carol Singletary

Debra Chilcoat, Healthy Teen Network, presents her session "Keep It Simple:
Linking Teens to Sexual Healthcare" on Wednesday

Christina Jackson and Antquan Smith from Sea Haven talk about how to
reach runaway homeless youth on Wednesday

Eric Rowles and Pat Kelsaw of Leading to Change give an energizing session
on Thursday morning

Beverly Bond, Founder and CEO of BLACK GIRLS ROCK!, delivers the
keynote address at Thursday's luncheon

SC Campaign staff take a selfie with Beverly Bond!

Party people at the 20th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday night
do the wobble

Charles Weathers presenting his power session on Friday to wrap up the conference

To view more photos from the conference, visit our Flickr page!

by Sara Lamberson, Corporate Communications Specialist, SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Summer Institute: Are You Ready?!

Our 15th annual Summer Institute conference is only two days away, and the SC Campaign wants to know...

Are you ready?!

We've got a spectacular program for you all this year, including...

Wednesday, June 11

• 12:30pm – 2:00pm Murray Vincent Award Luncheon with keynote Sarah Brown, National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 
• 2:15pm – 3:45pm Breakout Sessions
• 4:00pm – 5:30pm Breakout Sessions
• 5:30pm – 7:00pm Palmetto Health Drop In

Thursday, June 12

• 8:30am – 10:00am       Breakout Sessions 
• 10:15am – 11:45am     Breakout Sessions
• 12:00pm – 1:30pm     BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Luncheon with keynote Beverly Bond
• 1:45pm – 3:15pm         Breakout Sessions
• 3:30pm – 5:00pm         Breakout Sessions
• 5:00pm - 8:00pm         20th Anniversary Celebration 

Friday, June 14

• 6:00am – 9:00am Breakfast for Embassy Suites guests
• 9:00am – 12:00pm Power Sessions

We can't wait to welcome each of our 379 attendees so we can salut success and push for progress!

For the agenda and full listing of breakout and power sessions, click here. 

by Sara Lamberson, Corporate Communications Specialist, SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

And the Celebration Continues...

Let's party like it's 1994!

In all seriousness, we are counting down to Summer Institute 2014, where we will continue to celebrate 20 years of accomplishments in teen pregnancy prevention while pushing even harder for more growth and progress. We are excited to have more than 350 colleagues from across the state and the nation. This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the 47 percent decrease in SC's birthrate but focus on the research, awareness, advocacy, and evidence-based programming necessary to keep improving as SC is still ranked 11 in the nation for teen births.  While we will work hard in beautiful Charleston, SC June 11-13, we will also take time to party just as hard as we did in Columbia at our 20th Anniversary Celebration, especially during our celebration on Thursday night at the conference! Check out some conference highlights below:

Social Work, Health Education, and Counseling Hours Available

The 2014 Summer Institute will provide strategies that impact young people's health and well-being by providing the latest information regarding teen pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention programs and approaches.  

The conference will feature: 

• Wednesday opening luncheon with Sarah S. Brown, CEO, National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
• Thursday keynote address from Beverly Bond, founder of BLACK GIRLS ROCK 
• More than 30 breakout sessions featuring presenters from across the country
• Friday Power Sessions, including information on motivational interviewing, leadership, teaching boys, communication, working with older youth and evidence-based interventions for young people
• networking opportunities for participants 
• An exhibit area that includes more than 20 relevant organizations and vendors 

Click here for the agenda and schedule of workshops.

More information is available at the Summer Institute Conference homepage.  Questions? Contact Kimberley Wicker at 803-771-7700.

by Kimberly Wicker, Outreach and Development Specialist, SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Rocking with Beverly Bond: Summer Institute 2014

I am always excited about Summer Institute – you know that second week in June when experts from all around the state and country come together to network, share knowledge, and hopefully grow professionally in the process.  This year, as the SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy celebrates 20 years as an agency, I am even more excited to be part of another great conference!  Our theme – Saluting Success, Pushing for Progress – is a reminder that every year, we must push the envelope a bit more, strive a little harder, and keep pressing to gain and learn from past experiences.  Last year, I was watching Black Girls Rock on BET – an awards show honoring young women and celebrities of color who epitomize strength, courage, perseverance, and hard work.  As I watched and monitored social media (multitasking as always), I realized that so many of my friends and colleagues were inspired, mesmerized even, by the POSITIVE images of the women and young girls featured that night.  For years, I have known that Black Girls Rock Foundation founder, Beverly Bond’s, work would be great inspiration for colleagues at the conference.  But this year’s show and a subsequent interview on MSNBC featuring her confirmed for me the need to invite Ms. Bond to Summer Institute 2014.  Beverly is a former DJ in New York City and now uses her experiences to mentor, educate, and fund raise on behalf of young women.  Self-esteem, guidance, perseverance, and encouragement – these are few of the values her work tries to instill in young women, especially those who are often marginalized and ignored.  All of us - individuals, communities, and the nation - benefit when young people (all young people) are confident and prepared to be productive participants in society.  We look forward to having Ms. Bond rock with us in Charleston, helping us to push the envelope a bit more, strive a little harder, and keep pressing to gain and learn from past experiences.  We all want what’s best for our youth but sometimes it takes a little inspiration to help us continue pushing for progress!

by Kim Wicker, Outreach and Development Specialist, SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy