“What Kids Know and Parents Wish They Did”

“What Kids Know and Parents Wish They Did”

Vancouver Workshop Features Former Gang Leader turned National Keynote Speaker

“What Kids Know and Parents Wish They Did,” is a free workshop for parents on February 28th, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Southwest Washington Boys and Girls Club, 409 NE Anderson Road, Vancouver, WA 98665.

The workshop, sponsored by the Safe Communities Task Force, features nationally known keynote speaker and former Kansas City gang leader Ossco Bolton, who now works to eradicate gang violence in communities across the country. Mr. Bolton is founder of P.O.S.S.E. (Peers Organized to Support Student Excellence) which trains and partners youth with their local law enforcement agencies to better their community.

In addition to Mr. Bolton’s keynote address, workshop topics include:

Drugs/Alcohol: What are kids using and seeing, presented by Sheryl Smith, Intervention Specialist with Vancouver Public Schools.
Talking with your Kids and Teens, presented by Clark County Juvenile Court Probation Counselors, Chris Simonsmeier and Karen Lucas.
Healthy Relationships, presented by Joan Renner, Director, and Laurie Schacht, Outreach Coordinator, of the YWCA Sexual Assault program.
School/Credit Options, and how to navigate the school system presented by Elizabeth Mikaele, Hudson’s Bay High School Counselor.
Gangs: Warning Signs and Behaviors, presented by Vancouver Police Detective Marshall Henderson.

The workshop is free of charge and includes lunch, raffle prizes, and Spanish and Russian interpreters. Parents must register. To register contact the Boys & Girls Club at (360) 567-1152 between 8:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. Monday – Friday. Childcare is not provided.

In addition to the workshop, Mr. Bolton will speak to community leaders on February 27th, 2009 at the Water Resource Center.