Coffee Talk is a new summer program for high school girls to talk about any issues that they are dealing with or are interested in. Many topics are covered including high school and college, relationships with friends, family members, or boyfriends, or how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Whatever the issue, Coffee Talk will be the place for it to be discussed. High school girls are encouraged to be active listeners and engaged in conversation.

Adult supervision and guidance are provided at each meeting but the conversation will be mainly guided by the girls. The goal of this program is to provide a safe place where high school girls feel confident and secure in expressing their individual thoughts and presenting their own personalities.

Thanks to Maranatha Assembly of God and MN Advertising and Design, all Coffee Talk participants will receive a free travel mug, which they may fill at a discounted price during each Coffee Talk meeting. Other than the optional purchase of your beverages or snacks, Coffee Talk is free to all high school girls.

Coffee Talk dates and locations:

Cool Beanz ñ North Branch, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m., July 25, Aug. 8, Aug. 22.

Kodiak Coffee ñ Forest Lake, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m., July 18, Aug. 1, Aug. 15, Aug. 29

Nesting Grounds ñ Wyoming, 7-8 p.m., July 13, July 27, Aug. 10, Aug. 24.

Adult women are needed to participate in Coffee Talk meetings as volunteer leaders and meeting facilitators. We are looking for applicants who are trustworthy, upbeat, honest and understanding, and we want the volunteer leaders to be willing to share their own personal experiences growing up, whether positive or negative.

Volunteer leaders should be there to offer support in an appropriate way that is beneficial to the high school girls without telling the girls how to live their lives. Both an application and interview are required for program volunteers.

For more information about Coffee Talk or becoming a program volunteer, contact Carrie Dobie at the Youth Service Bureau at (651) 464-3685 or: Carrie.Dobie@ysblakesarea.org.org.