This year’s theme is Backstories: The Epidemic. Backstories are possibly the most important factors to consider when serving a hurting, disenfranchised, vulnerable, under-represented, misunderstood, or bullied youth. As providers we have become obsessed with providing quick fixes to our youth’s problems, rather than determining the pathology of their problems. The root causes and influences are at an all-time high lending to our youth living in a state of emergency. This year’s conference will expose participants to the epidemic known as Backstories and how they contribute to youth and gun violence. Our speakers are a diverse group of experts in their respective fields who will bring vast knowledge and effective skill sets to help participants circumvent and mitigate urban youth conflict by implementing substantive, socially, and culturally appropriate interventions. All presenters will present modern and aggressive approaches and interventions to meet and address the needs of our most vulnerable clients…our children and youth. This symposium will engage our professional audience, accelerate much needed dialogues, and most importantly provide tools and resources that can be utilized to facilitate impactful and lasting change.

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Who: The primary target population for this conference are social service providers, educators, law enforcement officials (including lawyers and judges), healthcare providers, faith leaders, parents, college students majoring in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, and Public Health are all invited to attend. Participants will benefit from the unfiltered truths that will be discussed throughout the conference. The symposium targets people who work with, want to work with, or are invested in urban at-risk youth ages 7-22 years old. Many professionals who work with urban at-risk youth do not know or understand the extent of the harsh reality these children/youth are living, which ultimately makes their programs, services, and interactions with the youth, ultimately unrelatable.