Even though social media and technology keep our youth informed, we still need pillars of the community to provide guidance and counsel.
On Dec. 18, DPSCD (Detroit Public Schools Community District) and DWIHN (Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network) have teamed up to hold a youth-focused panel titled “Real Talk.” “Real Talk” will focus on informing the youth about the dangers of vaping and alcohol. The event will take place from 5 to 6:30 PM at the East English Village Preparatory Academy. Like its title, the panel line-up is comprised of dedicated community members who served our youth in their respective capacities. WXYZ reporter Andrea Isom will be leading the conversation. The panelists include:
- DJ BJ of Hot 107.5
- Bushman of FM 98 WJLB
- Willie E. Brooks, Jr., President, and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN)
- Chrystal Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Marketing, Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD)
Tiffany Devon, Director of Communications at DWIHN said that we must inform our youth about these issues at all costs.
“At DWIHN, we want to make sure we’re covering our bases with providing knowledge and information,” said Devon. “We have to be aware of what’s being marketed to our children and I’m hoping this will be one of many events we do with DPSCD.”
Both alcohol and vaping are drugs of choice that many of our youth are partaking in. According to the Addiction Center, teen drug abuse can have long-term cognitive and behavioral effects since the teenage brain is still developing. While impaired driving incidents are down, people are dying from vape-use in Michigan. Recently, Michigan superintendent Matthew Montange said that vaping is a district-wide issue in many local schools.
“Like a lot of other districts in the state, and really in the nation, we’ve seen an uptick in drug use, particularly in vapes,” said Montange. “Vaping has just kind of taken over school districts.”
The allure to engage in unsafe behavior is difficult and overwhelming for our youth. School hallways often turn into high-pressure areas where adolescents push each other into negative-thinking cycles. Panels such as this will allow our children to think twice about their decisions.
This event is free to the public. For more information, CLICK HERE.
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