U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu to Host Youth Summit on June 29 at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Northeast Washington

            WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and numerous local and federal law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations are teaming up to host the Eighth Annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence Youth Summit” on Friday, June 29, 2018, at Friendship Collegiate Academy.

             The focuses this year will be gun violence, sexual assault, and bullying prevention.  The event will feature dynamic speakers, entertainment, and invaluable information and resources.

            For the past seven years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has joined its many partners to host the Youth Summit. The Youth Summits have kicked off with plenary sessions that highlighted subjects such as the causes and consequences of youth violence, challenged youth participants to make better decisions, and emphasized the importance of cooperating with law enforcement.  The plenary sessions have been followed by breakout sessions that have focused on public safety issues facing our youth, such as teen domestic violence, heroin and opiate abuse, and human trafficking. The summits have concluded with an educational entertainment segment, which reinforced the positive messages of the Youth Summit. 

            Additionally, the summits have included a youth informational fair in which numerous non-profits have provided information on youth development programs, mentoring programs, and educational youth activities.  More than 500 youths participated in the event last year, and thousands have participated in the activities since the first event in 2011.

            The eighth annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence Summit” will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., east of the Anacostia River, at Friendship Collegiate Public Charter Senior High School, 4095 Minnesota Avenue NE. The location is directly across the street from the Minnesota Avenue Metro station.

            The Summit is a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program, a nationwide effort to reduce violent crime.

            The many collaborative partners include East of the River Family Collaborative, Collaborative Solutions for Communities, Men Can Stop Rape, the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation, Hillcrest Children and Family Services, Howard University Hospital, the District of Columbia Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, the  Metropolitan Police Department,  the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, Go-Go Fitness and a Foundation for a Drug-Free World. People with questions may contact Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for External Affairs, Wendy Pohlhaus at (202)-252-6930 or wendy.pohlhaus@usdoj.gov.