UMass Boston to Unite Youth Violence Prevention Leaders at Roundtable
(Boston, April 20, 2009) – In an effort to bring leaders and organizations together to work more collaboratively to prevent youth violence, the University of Massachusetts Boston will host “Breaking the Cycle and Stepping Back from Violence: A Roundtable to Develop Strategies for Youth Violence Prevention” on April 29.
The forum, co-hosted by the City Mission Society of Boston, is aimed at lending the expertise of the university’s faculty, staff, and research activities to approach the issue of youth violence from a different perspective. The forum will convene practitioners, community members, academicians, and policymakers involved in youth violence prevention in a coordinated effort toward indentifying a strategic and interdisciplinary approach to youth violence prevention. Faculty from anthropology, psychology, nursing, education, sociology/criminal justice, English, and other areas will share in the work toward generating a creative exchange of insights and experiences with forum participants.
“The stigma of youth violence has plagued American cities for decades, and we know that here in Boston, violence claims and damages so many young lives,” said Chancellor J. Keith Motley. “We at UMass Boston look forward to sharing our resources with those at the forefront of this issue and helping to develop strategies toward solutions.”
The forum will begin with a viewing of the film Jahmol’s Plan for Youth Peace produced by the City Mission Society and the Reverend Miniard Culpepper, pastor of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Dorchester. This will be followed by roundtable discussions facilitated by UMass Boston faculty. The discussions will focus around the key questions of what is being done, how do we know it is working, where the gaps are, and what role can the university play.
For more information, call 617.287.5312.
About UMass Boston
With a growing reputation for innovative research addressing complex urban issues, the University of Massachusetts Boston, metropolitan Boston’s only public university, offers its diverse student population both an intimate learning environment and the rich experience of a great American city. UMass Boston’s seven colleges and graduate schools serve more than 14,000 students while engaging local, national, and international constituents through academicprograms, research centers, and public service activities. To learn more about UMass Boston, visit www.umb.edu.
About City Mission Society
The City Mission Society is a social justice organization that promotes a just society for all people by uniting communities and transforming individuals through service, education, and advocacy. Our programs help youth and adults achieve their full potential while providing opportunities for congregations and communities to engage in social action and change. This work is supported by the Metropolitan Boston Association of the United Church of Christ, congregations, individuals, and foundations.