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Schools

HLCDA Holds Inaugural South Suburban Teen Summit

The Hire Learning Career Development Academy is hosting
the 2011 South Suburban Teens at the Top Youth Summit and Expo on Jan. 15 from 3-7 p.m. at Prairie State College. The summit is expected to attract more than 200 teens from local South Suburban communities.

According to the President and Director of HLCDA, Kelly Evans, “Part of the increase in negative behavior in young people is due to teenagers not feeling connected to their community. This conference is intended to bring teens, parents, organizations and local community leaders together to discuss how to provide effective services. And we will be giving young people a voice to tell us what they want and how to service them.”

The summit will feature local leaders such as Sen. Toi W. Hutchinson; Karin Norrington Reaves, the director of the President’s Office of Employment and Training of Cook County; actress and playwright Rain Wilson; Wendell Mosby, of Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center; youth panelists from various area high schools; performance dance group Culture Shock Chicago; musical guest Chi of Jones Entertainment; and radio personalities Teefa of Power 92 and Sean Dale of Raw Radio on Power
92.

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There also will be several youth service organizations at vendor booths promoting their programs and services geared toward youth.

This event is being sponsored by Hutchinson, Chicago Heights Ald. Lisa Aprati (5th) and Akil Abree Consultants Inc.

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“This event will be a lot of fun and very informative for both the youth attending as well as the adults listening,” Evans said. “We look forward to making this an annual event and getting more young people involved each year!”

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