PHILADELPHIA — On Wednesday, December 19, 2018 Mayor Jim Kenney will join the Philadelphia Youth Commission (PYC), the student government of Kensington CAPA, the Office of Violence Prevention, and the Department of Behavioral Health to host the next PHLYouthTalks at Kensington CAPA High School (1901 N Front St) from 5pm-7pm. This event will focus on violence in Philadelphia, how it affects youth, and what can be done to reduce violence in Philadelphia’s communities moving forward.

PYC’s PHLYouthTalks is a youth-led series of forums, events, and gatherings designed to inform young people, engage in meaningful dialogue, and connect with resources and solutions to topics and issues that impact their lives. PYC determines the topics of these events based on feedback the commission receives from Philadelphia’s youth.

The program will begin with welcoming remarks from Mayor Jim Kenney and Director for the Office of Youth Engagement, Ricardo Calderón. After the short introductory program, attendees will transition to small breakout groups to discuss specific factors of violence.

The breakout sessions will be:

Unpacking Trauma: The Aftermath of Violence
A facilitated discussion on the direct and indirect trauma associated with violence among youth and resources that can be accessed for support.

  • Lead Facilitator –  Gabriel Bryant, DBHIDS
  • Youth Facilitator – Tatiana Amaya, Youth Commissioner

Prevention & Intervention: A Panel Discussion
A panel discussion with representatives from the community, the Office of Violence Prevention and the District Attorney’s Office.

  • Moderator – Jude Husein, Youth Commissioner
  • Panelists:
    • Edwin Desamour, Community Advocate
    • Ryan Rivera, 1st Judicial District of Pennsylvania
    • Ebony Wortham, Juvenile Unit, District Attorney’s Office
    • Shondell Revell, Executive Director, Office of Violence Prevention

Reducing Violence: The City’s Violence Reduction Plan
A presentation and discussion on what the city is doing to reduce violence and the development of the new violence reduction plan.

  • Lead Facilitator – Erica Atwood, Office of Violence Prevention
  • Youth Facilitator: Noah Artis, Youth Commissioner

In addition to the breakout sessions, there will be resources available throughout the event from organizations such as the Philadelphia Police Department, CeaseFire PA, DBHIDS, and Engaging Men of Color (EMOC).

At the end of the event, the group will reconvene to share lessons learned, ideas for moving forward, and actionable items. Philadelphia youth from across the city are encouraged to attend this free event. Anyone interested in attending can pre-register.

Attendees are encouraged to participate in the conversation on social media using #PHLYouthTalks and tagging @PhillyYC.

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