MERRILLVILLE | The Gary NAACP is hosting the second National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Indiana State Conference Youth Summit this weekend at The Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, 801 81st Ave.

Registration opens at 9 a.m. Saturday and includes a full day of activities, followed by a morning session from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday. Cost is $25 for youth 24 and younger and $35 for adults. A special room rate is available at the hotel.

The summit is geared for middle school through college age youth and adults that want to connect with young people. "The purpose of this summit is for young people to come together to network, listen, and learn from each other about what is going on in their communities; for adults to get a chance to interact with the youth in an unhurried and relaxed atmosphere; and to improve communications between adults and youth," said a written statement from summit organizers.

After a continental breakfast, a 10 a.m. welcome Saturday by Gary NAACP Branch President Tammi Davis will be followed with introductions by Gary NAACP Youth Council President Cheron Reed and opening remarks by Indiana NAACP State Conference President Barbara Bolling and Gary Mayor Rudy Clay. NAACP state officials Maureen Duncan and Ebony Roberts will address the relevance of the NAACP to today's youth in "Why the NAACP? Why Now?"

Saturday's first rap session at 10:30 a.m. is titled "What's At Stake in '08" and includes a discussion about the political process, how to turn a community issue into a law and how to get involved in the political process - from registering to vote to running for office.

In a 11:30 a.m. session, statewide candidates have been invited to present their platforms and youth will be able to ask the candidates questions about issues that relate to them and their generation.

The keynote speaker at a 12:30 p.m. luncheon is Dr. Elaine Eason Steele, executive director of the Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute of Detroit, Mich., and best friend of late civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

A rap session at 2:15 p.m.is called "It's All About Image," and offers youth the opportunity to engage in a discussion about how their appearance, behavior and style impacts their image and that of their school, their community and, ultimately, their future.

Youth will also be able to browse vendor booths before departing at 5 p.m. to participate in NAACP Youth Night at the Gary SouthShore RailCats baseball game vs. the Joliet Jackhammers at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary. A special voter registration drive will be held at the 6 p.m. game.

A 10 p.m. wrap-up session Saturday night will glean from youth what they learned at earlier rap sessions and begin the preparation of a "youth agenda."

Sunday's program includes breakfast at 8 a.m. and the final rap session on "Youth Sex and Health." Tammy Morris, executive director of The NWI Aliveness Project, will lead a discussion on sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS and good health practices.

For more information, call Tammi Davis at (219) 644-6433.

- The Times