One of most important annual events sponsored by Cortland Area Communities That Care Coalition takes place next Saturday, March 27.  The fourth CACTC Youth Conference for students in grades 9-12 is scheduled from noon to 4:30 PM at the Park Center on the SUNY Cortland campus.  The theme for the afternoon event is “How You Can Make a Difference.”  Coalition partners for the day are SUNY Cortland Athletics, Access to Independence, and the National Guard.  John Underwood, the President and Founder of the American Athletic Institute, will be the keynote speaker. His credentials as an athlete, coach, and prevention specialist assure that his presentation will be relevant and informative.

Underwood is a former NCAA All-American, International-level distance runner and World Masters Champion.  He has coached or advised more than two dozen Olympians including World and Olympic Champions. He holds three International Olympic Solidarity diplomas for coaching.

In his work as a crusader for drug-free sport at all levels, Underwood’s innovative program Pure Performance has gained international prominence. He is the Master Trainer for the New York Public High School Athletic Association drug prevention program, one of the largest mandated programs in prevention history.

Underwood is a consultant to the prestigious Pacific Institute of Research and Evaluation.  PIRE is a leader in providing accurate, reliable information for the field of prevention.  Underwood also consults for Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center. He frequently presents at the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention National Leadership Conference and at U.S. Department of Education events.

John Underwood has conducted the only physiological case study of the residual effect of alcohol on elite athletic performance. He has appeared as a guest commentator for ABC Wide World of Sports for Olympic Drug Scandals. In addition, he has worked with nearly all sport federations including the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Football League, National Basketball Association, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the International Olympic Committee.  Underwood is a Human Performance Consultant for the U.S. Navy SEALS.

Based in Chestertown, New York, The American Athletic Institute is a Sport Consulting Firm committed to helping people whether or not they are actively involved in sports.  With a focus on the dangers of drugs and alcohol, they design programs that present pertinent prevention and intervention information in a way that will lead to positive change.

Cortland Area Communities That Care Coalition has a similar mission.  CACTC works constantly to help prevent adolescent problem behaviors like alcohol and substance abuse, teen pregnancy, dropping out of school, delinquency, and teen violence.  The annual youth conference is one way to achieve these beneficial community goals.

Should you want more information about the Youth Conference, contact Susan Prier who is Chair of the CACTC Youth Involvement Workgroup.  She can be reached at 758-5536 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Jo Ann Wickman is Chair of CACTC’s public relations workgroup known as PR.Com.  She is a Coalition Board member.