When Edward DeJesus summons one of his young assistants, they come running.
“Yes, sir,” Javier Starks said, sprinting down an aisle of a packed auditorium Tuesday morning after DeJesus called for him during a presentation. “What can I do for you?”
Sparks? quick and polite response impressed the crowd ? more than 200 county teachers, police officers and social workers who deal with at-risk and marginalized youth every day. They attended the county?s sixth annual Youth Symposium at Sheppard Pratt to learn techniques that will help them reach out to Baltimore?s teens.
Keynote speaker DeJesus, founder of the Youth Development and Research Fund Inc., discussed strategies on how to get at-risk youths to beat the odds, get educated and retain a job. He talked about using language and pop culture that today?s youth can relate to and incentives that promote responsibility.
“Any time they can use hip-hop to sell peanut butter and pretzels, and we can?t use it to sell GEDs, degrees and careers, we?ve got a problem,” DeJesus said.
The conference, sponsored by Baltimore County?s Office of Employment and Training and Workforce Development Council, provides an opportunity for area youth service providers to network and learn the latest trends and best practices for effectively reaching at-risk youths, said event coordinator Barbara Woods.
It also helps inspire the oft-frustrated workers, she said.
“We try to encourage them to stay in the game and fight hard to help our youth achieve success,” Woods said.
Participants attended workshops on street gangs, substance abuse, gender issues and managing threatening situations. Officer Terry Wilson, a Baltimore County police officer who works with the Police Athletic League, said he often struggles with teens who argue they can make more money selling drugs than working legitimately.
“That?s a message we have to cut,” Wilson said. “We have to ask them, ?What can you do with that drug money? You?ve got no credit. You can?t spend it everywhere.? ”
