DATE: Friday, September 5, 1997             TAG: 9709050639

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NIA NGINA MEEKS 

        STAFF WRITER  

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   54 lines

YOUTH SUMMIT MAKES PLANS FOR LOCAL OCTOBER CELEBRATION

The Presidents did it. Businesses did it. To a degree, children did it.

But on Oct. 12 and 13, Hampton Roads is going to show the country how to really put on a summit - kid-style.

The Virginia Beach delegation has been planning on spreading the word ever since it returned from the April Presidents' Summit for America's Youth in Philadelphia. October's ``Youth Celebration Summit'' will include those who matter most, the people the big summit aimed to help.

In April, retired Gen. Colin Powell and others vowed to help 2 million children in this country who are denied basic resources. A caring adult. A safe home. A healthy start. Skills. An opportunity to serve.

The October event will give local students in grades seven to 12 first crack at working toward local solutions for these problems.

Each of the five South Hampton Roads cities will send 80 children to converge on the host campus, Virginia Wesleyan College. Scott Sachs, 16, a Beach delegate and the college's president, William Greer Jr., are the event chairs. Charles Pugh, host of WAVY TV-10's ``Kid Talk,'' will emcee.

After a breakfast, the children will discuss resources and think of better ways to match their peers to them. Later they will meet with members of their city to discuss ideas to to bring home.

By day's end, organizers hope that these students will not only have ideas, but will take ownership of some of the problems and make commitments of their own to help change them.

Ideas will also be discussed for the Mayor's Summit in February. But work won't completely dominate the day. The precision drillers of the Hampton Marching Elite, the Filipino American Youth Dance Troupe and the drama and stage company, Phazz I, will entertain their peers.

The Virginia Beach delegation plans to use an Oct. 12 cleanup project in the Lake Edwards neighborhood to prepare for the summit. The other cities are contemplating similar community service projects, organizers said.

The organizing committee, made up of delegation members and other volunteers, is still hammering out details. Namely a budget. They expect the event to cost ``under $50,000.'' The hope is that local businesses will show a sense of community spirit by pitching in to help cover costs. Everything from folders to computers are needed.

``We're excited. I do think this is a tremendous opportunity for us to come together,'' said Roscoe Brown Jr., committee member and director of Virginia Beach's Youth Services Corp. ``It probably will serve as an excellent example of regionalism.''

And the children shall lead. MEMO: TO HELP

Contributions and commitments can be registered at VOLUNTEER Hampton

Roads, 100 E. Main St., Norfolk, 23510, or call

624-2400.

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