Politics & Government

Gwinnett Library To Host Teen Event

April conference geared towards middle school and high school students.

The Gwinnett County Public Library will host a “Teen Summit” to bring together teens, their parents and community organizations to explore social issues and other topics of interest.

The event, scheduled for Saturday, April 16, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville.

The conference-style event will include more than a dozen workshops and discussion groups covering topics including living green, cyber privacy, understanding depression, gang awareness, distracted driving and mastering finances.

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“Library-sponsored events like Teen Summit 2011 create a neutral environment allowing for a free exchange of information and ideas. Our goals for Teen Summit 2011 are to help parents and teens become more aware of the resources available in the community and in the library, and also to create dialog on many levels: teen to teen; teen to parent; and community to organizations,” explained Executive Director Nancy Stanbery-Kellam in a statement. “We want people to walk away knowing that there are a myriad of organizations that support teens and their families, and that the library brought many of them together in one day.”

Local organizations participating in the summit include the , Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, the Teen Victim Program, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, VOX and Summit Ridge Hospital. Laughing Matters will perform an afternoon improvisational act on conflict resolution, and The Aurora Theatre has donated the use of their facility.

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“The Aurora has been a great partner over the years, hosting library and Friends of the Library events. They are an organization with a heart, always willing to help make good things happen for the community,” Stanbery-Kellam said.

Donors for the teen summit include Rita’s Water Ice, Given Skateboards and Ron Montgomery and Associates.

Sessions during the summit will be presented by Eric Rooks and Marco Silva, Gwinnett County Police Department; Brenda McDaniel, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful; Bill Richardson, Teen Victim Impact Program; Chris Owens, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Raymond Payne, Highland Advisory; Daniel Lamb, Dojo American Karate Centers; Leanne Gotvald, Dance Fusion and Fitness; Ray Pacheko, Summit Ridge Hospital and Lindy Settevendemie, VOX.

Exhibitors include the Gwinnett County Public Library, Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, the Gwinnett Children’s Shelter and the Gwinnett Coalition.

(See the photo gallery for a complete schedule and course descriptions.)


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