Don't Runaway Taskforce and More!

Don't Runaway Program Update

Rob Donnelly (Director of Volunteers) and Kristina England (Executive Director) are now fully engaged in the Don't Runaway Taskforce.  The Taskforce is taking a look at the current National Don't Runaway Program and making enhancements, including:

• A new website for local programs and school clubs
  
• Updated training documentation
  
• Informational materials for distribution.
  

We look forward to helping out the National program and gaining an understanding of how we can establish Don't Runaway Programs in Massachusetts.

Find out more about the Don't Runaway Program at http://www.dontrunaway.org/.

Safety in Numbers Conference

On Friday June 12^th, Rob Donnelly and Allyson Trull (Director of Outreach) attended the Safety in Numbers²: The Power of Prevention and Partnerships For At-Risk Youth Conference presented by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Youth Violence Prevention Program in Worcester. Rob and Ally attended workshops on:

• Youth development approaches in working with at-risk youth,
• Non-violent conflict resolution,
• The use of community mobilization to address violence, and
• Working with urban, at-risk youth.

They also participated in a panel discussion on collaboration between different youth programs and organizations in order to effect greater change and heard a lecture on the modern challenges of youth violence from the keynote speaker, James Alan Fox, Ph.D., professor of Law, Policy and Society at Northeastern University.  

The conference provided information that will help the group incorporate some new perspectives and approaches into their work with Worcester youth. It was also a great opportunity to network with other organizations in Worcester and meet like-minded people who are working for a better future for youth throughout the state of Massachusetts.