Youth Programs

Student Conferences, School Assemblies and Programs for
Graduating Seniors, Incoming Freshmen, Student Leadership,
Self-Awareness and Personal Development Conferences,
Booster Clubs, At-Risk Youth, 4-H and FFA

“The most powerful people on the planet are
people who solve problems!”

So what's so funny? It's student reaction to John Alston in action!

In a world of unlimited opportunities, infinite challenges and on-going changes, what is important for young people to know?  How to be a problem solver, first, in their own life.

With real-world experience growing up in Los Angeles, moving through fifteen different jobs on the way to becoming a classroom teacher, professional educator and coach with a degree in counseling psychology, John Alston takes his audiences on a reflective and thoughtful journey while providing them an experience. He genuinely believes that the most powerful people on the planet are people that solve problems.

“Each of us either becomes a better problem solver in our lives or we don’t.  In addition, each of us is unique and has the capacity to meet our respective challenges.”

John’s goal is to have people walk away from his presentation as better problem solvers and individuals with personal designs for living meaningfully and living well.

Surviving the School Game, John’s school assembly program, emphasizes character development with a “Can Do” philosophy as one travels from the first day of school to realizing that life demands that we grow up and get better at meeting its demands head on. Using humor to strike a universal chord for reframing some of the challenges, people, events and conditions encountered in growing up, John points out that distractions are everywhere - yet they are no excuse for failing to do our best.  There are concrete steps for people to take in order to cope with the distractions that frequently throw us off balance. One minute, he’s profoundly serious and insightful while offering specific strategies - the next minute, hilarious!

One speaker’s bureau said, “John Alston is on our goose bump list of speakers.”

Having delivered over 750 presentations to youth assemblies, coached and influenced more than 680 young men through the Angel City Links Achiever Program and made over 3,000 presentations to corporations and associations in North America over the past decade, John’s message has reached over three million people.  His insights, approach and style have attracted the attention of organizations whose mission it is to benefit from the talents of people and encourage them to become better problem solvers in both their personal and professional lives.

With audiences as small as 20 and as large as 29,000, John’s media appearances have carried his message around the world… “You count, you can make a difference and here’s how!” He has appeared on such prominent television shows as The Oprah Winfrey Show and two public broadcasting specials.

John is the author of four (4) books:  Life’s a Gift, Don’t Trash It!;  Story Power – Talking to Teens in Turbulent Times;  Goodness Must Be Taught and his latest, Stuff Happens and Then You Fix It! 9 Reality Rules to Steer Your Life Back in the Right Direction.

With the most prestigious and coveted CPAE designation (Council of Peers Award for Excellence) from the National Speakers Association, John was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame in 2001.

Click here to see a detailed description of these
two topic presentations for youth.

How to Survive the School Game
(for General Youth Audiences)

Making America Work:
Meeting the Challenges of Diversity
through Leadership, Mentoring and Coaching
(for Your Leaders)

Bring in John Alston and you will look like a hero at your next
school assembly or youth function. Book John Alston today!

back to Programs