Post-FCAT Testing: Florida Students Flock to the National Youth Crime Prevention Conference Downtown

Miami, FL, March 21, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Florida students will soon champion community-building efforts to prevent and advocate against violence as they acquire a wealth of information via workshops, engage in town hall meetings and present solutions to experts from the field. That’s the purpose behind the National Youth Crime Prevention Conference and International Forum, a four-day event, which kicks off its Building Champions theme Wed., Mar. 26 at the Hilton Miami Downtown beginning at 7 p.m.

Students will be exposed to a plethora of workshop topics from youth patrols to drug and alcohol abuse to gangs and performance-based initiatives such as drama groups. Attendees from schools and colleges will meet with nearly 1,000 other students from around the world, their advisors and law enforcement officials from top U.S. and foreign agencies.

“This year’s conference is about connection – empowering young people to connect to get results in their own communities, and connecting them to a national network that brings support, leverage, momentum, and ultimately a national change,” says Terry Modglin, Executive Director at Youth Crime Watch of America. “We could not do this without the support of our own Congressional and federal Executive Branch champions.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration knows that America's drug problems and related crime problems cannot be successfully dealt with through enforcement alone. The demand for drugs must be reduced if crime and violence are also to be reduced, and Youth Crime Watch of America's work with young people helps to accomplish that goal. We are proud to support Youth Crime Watch of America's mission of training young people to engage in drug and crime prevention activities at the community level,” says Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Miami Field Division, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Conference brings keynote speakers Barrington Irving, the youngest person to ever fly solo around the globe; famed author Jason Ryan Dorsey (“My Reality Check Bounced!”); Jack Calhoun (“HOPE Matters: How Faith Works in America”), former CEO and President of the National Crime Prevention Council; Queen Brown, Executive Producer and host of “What’s Going On” on WINZ 940 AM. Also expected to appear are Miami-Dade County’s Mayor Carlos Alvarez; Alberto M. Carvalho, Associate Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools; and DJ D-Wrek of MTV’s hit improv comedy show, “Wild ‘N Out.”

Miami has hosted the National Youth Crime Prevention Conference (NYCPC) many times since its inception. The event continues to be the world’s largest and most extensive four-day conference of its kind routinely attracting delegates from Jamaica, Brazil, Russia, Nigeria and thirteen other countries. Over the course of 19 years, the NYCPC has been attended by a total exceeding 20,000 participants and has featured speakers and appearances such as Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, Hotel Rwanda’s Paul Rusesabagina and athletic and television stars.

The 2008 National Youth Crime Prevention Conference and International Forum is proud to be sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Florida National Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, Project Safe Neighborhoods, PowerTrip Beverages, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, The Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free Community, Youth Crime Watch of Broward County, RAMAX Media, and the Joe Sonken Charitable Trust.

Youth Crime Watch of America is a national organization that has a proven record of preventing school shootings and other crimes in schools and local communities. The direct involvement that its members take in implementing programs to better their environment includes nine components. Experts agree, increased safety allows for progress and a better learning environment.

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