VENTURA, CA - Straight Up Ventura County wants to hear from youth about making a stand and raising one's voice against the issues surrounding underage and binge drinking and impaired driving.

Young people ages 12-25 are invited to create a video around the subject of speaking out to peers, to parents, to teachers, about making bad decisions about drinking.

"Some people think underage and binge drinking is okay," says Katherine Kasmir, Program Director of Straight Up, a youth development project in Ventura County. "But teens are hurting their bodies, their brains, their families, and their futures. If we want things to change, we all need to speak up. And it's important that we hear the voices, concerns and ideas from our local young people."

Short videos (30-90 seconds) are preferred, but longer videos are welcome as well. The subject matter and tone can be serious or humorous, as longs as the video deals with the powering of speaking up.

A grand prize of $500 will be awarded. The deadline is April 29, 2011 and winners notified by May11.

Downloadable rules and guidelines can be found at www.straightupvc.org/contest. Resources are available to youth and to educators in the form of educational workshops and equipment lending.

Interested parties can find out more information by contacting contest@straightupvc.org or (805) 647-4622.

About Straight Up Ventura County
Straight Up is a youth development project that promotes social change regarding underage and binge drinking and impaired driving using improvisation and interactive performance and workshops with engaging discussion, exploration of issues, and the development of personal and community solutions to these problems.

Straight Up is made possible through funding from Ventura County Behavioral Health Department Prevention Services, Alcohol and Drug Programs. www.straightupvc.org

Straight Up is made possible through funding from Ventura County Behavioral Health Department Prevention Services.