For the first time in two years, the Lincoln Parish Civic Engagement Institute returned with high school students from Cedar Creek, Choudrant High, Ruston High and Simsboro High schools involved. Presented by The Wellspring, the event challenged the students to identify problems within the community and then develop a solution to address the issues. The issues presented included cyber-bullying, geriatric stress, healthy vs. unhealthy relationships and internet security. For a day and a half, small, diverse groups of students collaborated with community mentors who helped provide context for the issues and then completed a presentation that was then shared in front of their peers, parents, teachers and a panel of community leaders. Serving as this year’s panelists were (front, left to right) Cathi Cox-Boniol (Louisiana Tech University and the Ruston Daily Leader), Stephen Williams (Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Department), and Sabrina Love (Boys & Girls Club of North Louisiana).
