Summit on area youths set for next weekend
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 21, 2007 1:51 PM
Smart Choices for Youth, Inc. and Wayne County Public Schools are joining forces to sponsor a Youth Violence Awareness Summit on Sept. 29 at Goldsboro High School.
The event will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will feature two nationally known speakers as well as panel discussions about what communities can do to help combat the high rise of youth violence.
The Rev. Dr. Wilson Goode, former mayor of Philadelphia and the current director of Amachi, a national mentoring effort, will speak from 10:30-11:15 on how to mobilize the community to address youth violence and gang activity.
Christopher "Play" Martin, best known as half of the 1980s hip-hop comedy duo Kid 'n Play and now a motivational speaker based in Durham, will speak during the afternoon session from 1 to 2 p.m. He will address how some types of music play a role in contributing to gang and youth violence.
Other presenters on the panel include Ronald Benton, regional consultant N.C. Gang Investigators Association, Pitt County Sheriff's Department; Wayne County commissioner J.D. Evans; Goldsboro Mayor Alfonzo King; county schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor; Joe Testino, chief court counselor with N.C. Department of Juvenile Delinquency Prevention; and Sheriff Carey Winders.
The conference is free, but registration is required and due by Sept. 24.
On the day of the event, doors will open at 8:30 a.m. A panel discussion on Understanding Youth Violence will be held from 9-10:30 a.m. A "Think Smart" program will also be offered by Neuse Correctional Facility from 12-1 p.m.
For more information, call Smart Choices at 735-0008 or e-mail Daryl Woodard at [email protected].