AVPRIDE, a youth leadership development nonprofit, in partnership with the Fayette County School System, is calling all Fayette parents, youth and community leaders to join Judge Glenda Hatchett in an honest and robust discussion about serious problems existing in the county.
“Issues Facing Teens & Parents – Digging Deep and Keeping It Real!” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, 6:30-8 p.m. in the McIntosh High School auditorium. Admission is free and open to Fayette County students in grades 8-12 along with parents and community leaders.
While risky behaviors such as underage drinking and drug use (at times with parents hosting underage drinking parties), early sexual behavior, and bullying are frequently talked about, very little time is spent in collective conversation about the underlying causes or in the exploration of what the community can do about it.
“We know Fayette County is a fantastic place to raise our kids and provide them with a strong educational base. We have to also pay attention to the things that put our kids at risk,” said AVPRIDE executive director Pam Reid.
“We know from statistics that our county has an issue with underage drinking, but statistics alone do not work to influence our community on this issue, and as a community it’s time to give an ear to what is causing issues like underage drinking and social hosting in the first place, as well as some of the underlying pressures and challenges. We need to share in the responsibility of designing something our kids can hear, and our parents can learn from and respond to. This town hall is a safe platform for that conversation, a dialogue that our community can benefit from and that will generate action in everyone.”
For more information, visit www.avpride.org or the organization’s Facebook page.
