UCHS HOSTS PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN REDUCING VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
(UNIVERSITY CITY, MO) — In a time when teenagers across the nation are stereotyped as a generation known for violence and poor choices, a group of University City High School (UCHS) student leaders are hosting discussions on the topic and offering information on peaceful alternatives to violence.
As members of the school’s Peace Committee, the students began exploring the topic of school violence and preparing this week’s events in the fall of 2009 as part of an ongoing student-driven effort to improve schools and communities. In April, all members will attend training on non-violent peer mediation offered by Building Life Foundations Nonviolence Center, and each student will be certified as a peer-mediation trainer.
Next school year, these students will serve as peer mediators at the high school and will help to grow the team with newly trained students each year. As part of their ongoing effort, the committee will host three community education forums to gather feedback and share information on how young adults and community representatives can work together to address challenges in the broader community. Parents and community members are invited to attend any of the three events.
* Monday, March 29, and Thursday, April 1 at 7:30 a.m., UCHS Auditorium – The Peace Committee will present to students some statistics on teen violence and alternate methods for resolving conflict.
* Tuesday, March 30, 1:30 p.m., UCHS Auditorium – The Peace Committee hosts panel members from the community for “A Meeting of the Minds: University City High School Students and the Decision-Makers Who Impact Them.”
Student leaders will discuss with panel members ways in which they can work together to reduce violence among teens. Peace Committee students include Chris J. Jones, Darian Kinsey, Jeffery McGhee, Raheem Mason, Lynden Peoples, Jessica Smith, Breasia Thomas, Dominique Union and Willie Vick. Panel members include Board of Education Vice-President Stacy Clay, Superintendent Joylynn Wilson, UCHS Principal Tim Wernentin, City Councilman Terry Crow, City Councilman Byron Price, and Chief of Police Charles Adams.
For more information about attending any of these events or about the Peace Committee, contact the communications office at (314) 290-4001.
