Ferguson Road Initiative & DISD host drug & gang prevention conference Saturday

by PegNews wire

WHITE ROCK HILLS — The Ferguson Road Initiative (FRI) and the Dallas Independent School District will host an educational conference on Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 8:30am – 12:00pm at Harold W. Lang Sr. Middle School in Dallas. The conference, a first time event for FRI, will educate more than 8,000 families and 13 DISD schools about the crisis of drugs and gangs, while offering them preventative tools to help protect their children from drug use and gang violence.

The conference, which will be headlined by guest speakers in the areas of childhood education, is one of the many projects that FRI is undertaking in an effort to build a more productive community with less crime and with better programs for its area youth. This conference marks a two-year old vision for Kerry Goodwin, Weed & Seed Coordinator and Susan Walker, FRI Board Member that has finally come to fruition with the help of its community.

The objective of the conference is to raise awareness and funds to send area children to CAMP DEFY. This Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) program was developed as a self-esteem program for children ages 9 to 12 to assist them in building character, leadership, and confidence so they are equipped to engage in positive, healthy lifestyles as drug-free citizens.

“If we can make an impact on even a handful of our area children with this conference,” says FRI Executive Director Vikki Martin, “then we will have considered it a success. Being able to send children to CAMP DEFY is an added bonus to the good that the conference itself will be doing for parents, guardians and children in our community.”

Source: FRI