COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) – The Division of Family Resource and Youth Services is hosting “Victory Over Violence” to provide educators with tools to keep their students safe & healthy.
he nonprofit, Steered Straight, will present at the conference and will feature its founder, Michael DeLeon. DeLeon struggled with drug addiction for 20 years and spent 12 years in prison and halfway houses for gang-related crime. DeLeon pleaded guilty in a complicated case involving the murders of his mother by gang members tasked to kill him. After his release from prison, DeLeon decided to turn his life around and create “Steered Straight” to help others avoid the same path.
“I’m not a counselor, coach, or parent. I’m talking to kids about the reality of what’s going on and I want to educate them. I’m passionate about it and don’t want my past to become their future,” shares DeLeon.
Now, DeLeon is using his experience and story to inspire youth to make the right decisions and stay on the right path. He has become the #1 booked school presenter in the country and is the nation’s leading expert on vaping and THC.
Steered Straight’s program reaches out to children, teens and young adults with a message of reality about life-choices and the importance of consequential thinking, so they understand that there are consequences to their actions.
DeLeon has spoken to more than 15 million students across the world and at thousands of schools. At the end of DeLeon’s presentation, kids come up to him and give him their vapes. He has collected thousands of vapes and says he is proud as vapes can destroy a child’s health and lead to long-term health problems.
“Vaping is worse than ever. Kids need to know the truth about vapes and that’s what I do.”
DeLeon says it’s important for parents to talk to their kids about the dangers and consequences of drugs. He has step-by-step books on how to do just that.