Decatur, Illinois (WAND) – Seven middle school, five high school, college students, community organizations and law enforcement students gathered at Millikin College on Friday for the Macon County Youth Summit.
Sherrod’s Independent Mentoring Program and law enforcement agencies around Macon County hosted a student summit focused on building relationships with law enforcement officers.
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“We provide a platform for engagement,” said Dr. Sherrod. “I see this as an opportunity to shine a light on what we are doing in our communities, to be selfless and respectful, and to put law enforcement at the forefront.”
The event included youth-led workshops, Fleming music therapy for life skills students, lunchtime empowerment, game tables, student and law enforcement obstacle course competitions, and discussions on violence prevention. .
“Today, it means helping students learn how to stay safe and feel comfortable in their communities, and help children learn about violence,” said Marya Spring, a senior at Mount Zion High School. I got
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Lexi Smith, a St. Teresa senior, told WAND News she’s been touring her community to have fun with children and talk about how to avoid violence. She said she feels like she’s making a difference in the Decatur community.
“My father died because of violence,” she shared. I wanted to know
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This was the second Youth Summit hosted by the Sherrod Independent Mentoring Program.