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Teen Summit: ‘Be real with us’
Photos by Tevin Stinson
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Local teens took center
stage last weekend at Ca
naan Missionary Baptist
Church when they led a
serious conversation with
the public on ways to stop
violence and other issues
currently plaguing local
youth.
The Stop the Violence
Youth Summit was hosted
by Beat the Streetz, a local
nonprofit geared toward
uplifting local youth. Dur
ing the open conversation
on Saturday, Jan. 11, teens
from high schools across
the district discussed vio
lence, gangs, the current
state of the local school
system, the need for pro
grams in the community,
and several other issues.
When asked what
they think would improve
the relationship between
the adults and the young
er generation, Rhasha
Barnes, who served as
moderator for the discus
sion, didn’t mince words
when sharing her thoughts.
She encouraged the adults
in attendance to listen to
their children more and
“be real.”
“I feel like a lot of times
when I’m trying to talk to
adults, especially when it’s
opinionated, I feel like I’m
not being heard or what I
say doesn’t matter because
I’m young,” Barnes said.
“Times are always chang
ing and even though you
may have lived through
your years and you do
have wisdom, I also have
some wisdom that pertains
to growing up in a differ
ent time.”
Beat the Streetz hosts
youth meetings and open
conversations throughout
the year.
THE PEARLS PROGRAM "Preparing Eager Achievers to Redirect their Lives Snccessfiilh "
The PEARLS program is designed for voting women PEARLS Activities, horseback Rifling, camping,
between the ages of 12-17 who are at high-risk for access to trauma counseling and support group,
domestic violence and substance abuse. yoga, swimming lessons and much more.
APPLICATIONS WILL START JANUARY 3, 2020 AND END FEBRUARY 3, 2020. SPOTS ARE LIMITED.
For more information, please call Tenika Clark at (336) 865-0388 or visit our website at elizashelpinghands.org
www.wschronicle.com