Feb. 13, 2002 – Eight young people who participate in a U.S. Attorney's peer helper program are off to Washington, D.C. Friday to attend the National Youth Summit on Preventing Violence.
More than 2,000 young people are invited to this summit, which provides a forum of workshops and meetings to "turn their ideas on how to end crime into a reality," according to a release from the Virgin Islands office of the U.S. Attorney.
The students are: Jessica Halliday and Lucretisha Cambran, St. Croix Educational Complex, tutors at the Grove Place Weed and Seed site; Christine Henry, St. Croix Central High School, tutor at Juanita Gardine Elementary School; Arthelma Chenee Tyson, Good Hope School, tutor at Alexander Henderson Elementary School; Wendy Andrews, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, tutor at Bovoni Weed and Seed site; Shennelle Donovan, Charlotte Amalie High School, tutor at Leonard Dober Elementary School; Jacinda Palmer, CAHS, tutor at J. Antonio Jarvis Elementary School; and Iambakisye Richardson, CAHS, tutor at Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School.
U.S. Attorney David L. Atkinson said in the release that the eight chosen are a "mere representative sample of a large number of youth in the Virgin Islands who are doing meaningful community outreach activities." The eight are among 100-plus students from the five secondary schools represented above who participate in the Peer Helpers Tutorial and Mentoring Program, which assists more than 200 young people territorywide.
The V.I. National Guard Counterdrug Task Force is a collaborative partner. Atkinson praised V.I. Education Department administrators for their support, and noted that funding for travel to the summit came from a variety of sources, including the Education Department, both Weed and Seed offices, and the U.S. Attorney's office.
The Summit, which takes place Feb. 16-19, offers a wide variety of activities: receptions, training sessions, mega-sessions including field trips, roundtable discussions, rallies with motivational speakers, two special evening events, and one free evening. On the last day, conferees will join for a March against Youth Violence, starting at the Crystal Gateway Marriott and ending at Capitol Hill.
Visit the Summit's website at www.ncpc.org for more information.
