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Thank you for taking the time to visit the webpage of the
DMVoices Youth Conference!
EXPRESS YOURSELF, LISTEN TO OTHERS, BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION! REGISTER TODAY BY CLICKING HERE!
Brought to you by the 21-member Youth Planning Committee (YPC), the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC)!
EVENT DETAILS
WHEN: Saturday, December 12, 2009
TIME: 1:30 PM - 6:30 PM
WHERE: Bell High School/Columbia Heights Education Campus Conference Facility
Bell H.S./Conference Facility (website) is located at 3101 16th St. N.W. Washington DC 20010, on the corner of 16th and Irving, only 2 blocks west of the Columbia Heights Metro Station on the Green Line (map and directions). The public entrance to the building is on 16th Street.
Admission Free & Open to All - Dinner & Entertainment Included!
TENTATIVE AGENDA
1:30 - 2:00 PM Check In/Coat-Check
2:00 - 2:30 PM Welcome & Opening Activities
2:30 - 3:30 PM 4 Concurrent Youth-Issue Workshops
(choose 1 upon check in)
Education
Featuring staff and youth from STEP UP DC! (Success Through Educational Progress)
Teen Pregnancy & Healthy Behaviors
Featuring staff and youth from LAYC's Teen Health Promoters
Youth & Community Violence
Featuring staff and youth from Barrios Unidos (VA) & Mixed Unity (MD)
Domestic Violence & Emotional Abuse
Featuring staff from WEAVE (Women Empowered Against Violence)
3:30 - 3:40 PM Break
3:40 - 4:40 PM 5 Concurrent Youth-Action Workshops
(choose 1 upon check in)
Leadership And Activism
Featuring staff and youth from the DC Youth Power Network
Yoga/Mind-Body Connection
Featuring staff from Yoga Activist
Social Justice Video, Photography & Design
Featuring staff and youth from Gandhi Brigade (MD)
Drumming & Percussion
Featuring staff and youth from the Young Women's Drumming EMPOWERMENT Project
Black-Brown Coalition Building
Featuring staff from the Black-Brown Alliance of the Fair Budget Coalition
4:40 - 4:50 PM Break
4:50 - 5:30 PM Inspirational Speakers & Closing Group Activity
5:30 - 6:30 PM Dinner, DJ & Opportunity Fair (featuring good food, great music & groups that offer youth community-based educational, engagement, leadership or activism opportunities)
From Gang Member To Doctor, From Maras To Med School
What Does It Take?!
Mr. Juan Pacheco’s motivation comes from his own life experience. He grew up in El Salvador before the civil war forced him and his family to leave a comfortable life to the low-income neighborhoods of Virginia. In their new economic reality, his parents, who once had time for their young children, had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet for Juan and his siblings. With the family structure weakened, and a new culture crashing in on him, Juan found himself relating more to the streets and gangs than to his own family. Mr. Pacheco had his best friend’s life taken away by gang violence. He also had a full time scholarship taken away because of his poor choices. Eventually, even his freedom was taken away as he spent time in jail. But Mr. Pacheco found inspiration in these challenges and changed his life around. He started a chapter of the anti-violence peace group Barrios Unidosin Virginia and is now at George Mason University attaining his pre-med degree. If Mr. Pacheco can turn his life around and improve himself and his community, imagine what you too can do!
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