Dear editor:
The Difference Makers of Hot Springs is extremely excited to host Town Talk Discussion II -- Our At-Risk Youth Crisis, at 6 p.m. Monday at the Hot Springs School District's Roy Rowe Auditorium, 400 Linwood St.
We feel this is such a valid topic and pressing period in time to have such a needed conversation.
It is our desire to initiate such a long-standing conversation to address critical issues of care that affect at-risk youth in the community. Subjects such as suicide prevention, human trafficking, drug awareness/dependence, school dropout, mental health and juvenile services are needful, but limited in access and resource. At-risk could be any youth on any given day; until more emphasis is placed on prevention, we are the front line, providing advocacy, education and awareness. We believe the more informed and educated people are, the better the decisions should be that are made by community stakeholders and the community-at-large. We look forward to engaging the community as we seek solutions for our at-risk youth crisis.
We are very excited to have as our program moderator Mrs. Carol Johnson, Arkansas Fair Housing Commission. Speakers will include Honorable Judge Wade Naramore, Juvenile Court; Pastor Derick Easter, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families; John Yarbrough, Just Communities of Arkansas, of Little Rock; and the Rev. Stanley Barnes, Building Bridges & Mending Fences, of Little Rock.
The program will also include a panel of professionals who are each experts in their perspective fields of study. Each panelist will have an opportunity to introduce themselves, their services and share their outlook to the future. During the latter part of the program, we will allow for community interaction with a brief Q&A. The targeted areas of focus points to the commonalities that perpetuate at-risk: Poverty, Health and Educational Outcomes, and At-Risk vs Juvenile Justice. Clearly, if juvenile justice is the final result, more has to be implemented in prevention and intervention. Access, Resources and referrals must be addressed, along with the creating of programs to provide adequate care.
We invite the public, community leaders and officials to join us for this healthy discussion to find solutions together.
Rev. Willie Wade Jr.
Founder/president
Difference Makers of Hot Springs
Editorial on 04/13/2018