Task force sets youth summit

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Young people from the Mahoning Valley will be brought together at a youth summit to learn about being responsible citizens and to avoid making bad decisions.

The event, sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Task Force on Crime and Violence Prevention, will be at the Choffin Career & Technical Center from 6 to 8 p.m. June 23.

The summit is free and open to all youth, grade six and up, and their parents. The center is located at 200 E. Wood St., Youngstown.

“We want to show kids that you don’t have to take the wrong road,” said Ricky S. George, chairman of the task force and associate director of Youngstown State University’s Center for Human Services Development. “We want to set some good examples and promote to kids that they need to be responsible people in the Valley.”

The summit also will include a discussion on not text-messaging while driving.

“We’ve got to hammer this home to the kids: What text message is that important that it could cost you your life?” George said. “They’re not driving in the sixth grade, but this is a good way to start.”

Kayla Milner of Warren, 18, who is attending the event, said kids need to know that it’s OK to not follow the crowd.

“You can be your own person and not fall in with the wrong clique,” she said. “I spend a lot of time at my church and volunteering.”

No registration is needed to attend the event.