Thank you, Phoenix Collegiate Academy!

Today the Ask, Listen, Learn team had an awesome Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day event with 180 6^th and 7^th graders at Phoenix Collegiate Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.

We had two very special guests speak today- Ask, Listen, Learn Superstar Rebecca Soni and Attorney General Tom Horne. As you can see from the pictures, we were in a room at a school unlike any other one we've ever visited before- it used to be a bowling alley!

The students had a great time playing our Xavix game and asking Rebecca questions about her daily workout routine, peer pressure when she was younger, and how she balanced school and swimming. Rebecca reminded all the student that it's important to say “Yes” to a healthy lifestyle to keep your mind and body fit for the future!

Stay tuned for more pictures on our Facebook soon…

Thank you, Arlington Science Focus!

This morning, Olympian Steven Lopez joined the Ask, Listen, Learn team in Arlington, VA at Arlington Science Focus School to (literally) kick off their day-long healthy lifestyle event.  The ALL team played our Xavix game with fourth graders and Steven answered questions about his training, daily diet and even showed off some tae kwon do moves!

Thank you to Physical Education teacher Ms. Jennifer Hall and the school administration for inviting us!  We're so glad the Ask, Listen, Learn game is a key part in teaching your students say YES to a healthy lifestyle, and NO to underage drinking!

Thank you, Emerson Middle School!

Today the Ask, Listen, Learn team was at Emerson Middle School in Los Angeles, CA with Superstar Bryan Clay. Even though the rainy weather delayed the assembly a little, the 300 students were happy to play our Xavix game and answer questions about healthy lifestyle choices.

 Bryan spoke about the importance of making good decisions while you're young in all aspects of life because what you do now affects who you'll be when you're older. He explained that he had a tough life growing up in Hawaii without much inspiration to be anything but a convenience store cashier, but he soon found passion to be something greater when he started running track...

Haley Kilpatrick's The Drama Years - Book giveaway

The Century Council is happy to announce we're working with Haley Kilpatrick, founder of Girl Talk, Ask, Listen, Learn Superstar, and one of TCC's 20 People to Watch on her nationwide book tour. Kilpatrick's book, Drama Years: Real Girls Talk About Surviving Middle School – Bullies, Brands, Body Image, and More focuses on the few short years when girls go through an incredible number of changes both physically and emotionally.  During these formidable years, girls face many pressures, which can often lead to and include drinking underage.

Parents, you have the power to positively influence your son or daughter when it comes to saying no to underage drinking.  A recent survey found 83% of youth 10-18 identify parents as the leading influence in their decision not to drink alcohol (The Century Council, 2012).  The Century Council is proud to support Kilpatrick's tour as she places much needed emphasis on improving ongoing conversations between parents and their daughters covering the importance of building positive self-esteem, dealing with peer pressure, and how to stand up and say “no” to underage drinking. 

We will be sponsoring Haley's book tour as she travels from coast to coast to encourage an ongoing dialogue between mothers and daughters to talk about the risks of underage drinking and how to deal with other pressures that come with the territory of Middle School. 

A girl's teen years can be confusing and often frightening. The book will help parents and teachers understand what they're going through, and how best to support them. The first 25 people to tweet what advice you would give your teenage self, with the hashtag #thedramayears, will receive a free  a copy of Haley's book from The Century Council.

 Review the event list below to see if Haley will be in your hometown.  We would love to see you!

• April 5, Louisville, Kentucky


• April 10, St. Louis, Missouri


• April 16, Kennesaw, GA


• April 18, Decatur, GA+


• April 20 & 21, Atlanta, GA


• April 23, 2012, Albany, GA


• April 26, Raleigh, North Carolina


• April 30, Denver, Colorado


• May 1, Seattle, Washington


• May 2, Redmond, WA


• May 3, Bainbridge Island, WA


• May 10, Frisco, TX


• May 12, Phoenix, AZ


• May 24, Seaside, Florida

Get times and addresses for each event here.

Contact Jessica Lepak for event details at lepakj@centurycouncil.org

Partnering with USA Swimming for a healthier future

We are pleased to announce our newest partnership with USA Swimming, the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States. The partnership is a key component of outreach efforts to parents and middle-school aged kids during Alcohol Awareness Month and beyond.

Parents, coaches and educators play a large role in influencing youth. The partnership with USA Swimming expands Ask, Listen, Learns' reach to active kids and parents. In partnership with USA Swimming, The Century Council will have a presence at Aqua Zone in Omaha where the 2012 US Swim Trials will be held June 25th through July 2nd. The Aqua Zone footprint will allow The Century Council to reach youth and parents through engagement on our interactive game and by providing compelling speakers to empower a captive audience. Ask Listen Learn ambassadors building out our swimming team include:

Tyson Gay: Alcohol Awareness Month

Helping kids say 'YES' to a healthy lifestyle and 'NO' to underage drinking is really important. This morning I was invited to Al Roker's morning show “Wake Up With Al.” We spoke about April being Alcohol Awareness Month and also about my work with Ask, Listen, Learn and visiting middle schools across the country.

The Ask, Listen, Learn program is personal for me. My daughter Trinity is in the target demographic of Ask, Listen, Learn. She's already a successful young girl in so many ways and I don't want her to get involved in drinking underage because it would take away her ability to function at 100%. The more kids I can talk to the more hopeful I am they will steer clear of alcohol and be able to excel in school and life.