SISFI's Youth Emotional Wellness Summit - Bronx

SISFI in association with St. Barnabas Hospital Teen Center invites you to our "Youth Emotional Wellness Summit” on Wednesday, April 16th 2014, 1-4pm at the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club, 543 E. 189th St, Bronx, NY, 10458 to focus on the mental, emotional, spiritual and sociological challenges and impacts of life, parenting, the education system, abuse, peer pressure, substance abuse, gangs, relationships, human trafficking, sexuality, isolation, poverty, lost identity affecting our youth that are forcing them into uncomfortable positions to make serious life choices and sometimes they don't have anyone to guide them or talk with about it. We’re giving them a platform to share, discuss, speak out on what’s truly in their hearts and on their minds so we can understand and help to guide them more effectively. We must understand human behavior and its relevance today before we can truly address the mental and emotional challenges plaguing our communities and people.

We hear about their challenges after they do something "bad" or get into trouble, but that's because we don't see, understand or focus on emotional wellness challenges and needs until after the fact. With suicide attempts and ideations, gun violence, gang initiations, early parenthood, school dropouts and health risks increasing in our youth, we cannot deny the seriousness of the issues and how they permeate our communities. Still, unchecked, we are afraid to face the issues as a whole and still look at them as isolated rather than recognize the need to go back to the source and root cause of the end results. We must come together to listen to them in order to effectively address these issues holistically or we will always be cleaning up and responding to the end results of violence, exploitation, loss of life and incarceration.

The Summit features youth guest speakers addressing important topics through their words and eyes.