Student Leaders Tackle Social Issues at St. Cloud Conference [AUDIO]

ST. CLOUD - Students from 21 Minnesota schools area learning about how they can shape the world through social change.

The annual Civic Engagement Leadership Conference brings nearly 400 junior high and high schoolers together with the purpose of learning about and discussing issues like discrimination, bullying, animal rights and body image, to name a few.

Laura Bruns is a senior at Apollo High School and one of the student presenters. She says she came to the conference last year just to miss a day of school, but ended up discovering a strong interest in social change.

Bruns says there are 27 different workshop topics to pick from, so everyone is sure to find something about which they're passionate.

In addition to the workshops, the day includes a student-written and performed play about diversity called "American Dreaming."

The Civic Engagement Leadership Conference is hosted annually by local nonprofit The Center for Service-Learning and Social Change.