Communities Building Kids of Character Seminar 

Join us to learn about issues facing our youth and hear how we can make a difference by promoting character education and development here in the valley.  This is your chance to voice your concerns and take action.  As a community, we CAN make a difference in children’s lives and help them grow into respectful, responsible citizens.

According to Martin Luther King, Jr, “Intelligence is not enough.  Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” This is important to Kids of Character and KidsPeace.  A local non-profit organization with a mission to promote character education and development for youth in the Lehigh Valley, Kids of Character has partnered with KidsPeace, a premier provider of services to help kids facing crisis, to bring you this unique seminar for a third year.

“Character, like competence, is not bestowed. It must be developed – continuously.” ~ Center for Leadership and Ethics, Ltd.  Let’s not forget to teach the 4^th and 5^th R’s: Respect and Responsibility.  Character education is important for students to become ethical, responsible citizens who will live lives of integrity and make good decisions in their personal lives, family lives and future work lives.  Character education teaches traits like COMPASSION, COURAGE, COURTESY, FAIRNESS, HONESTY, KINDNESS, LOYALTY, RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY.  It helps combat bullying and develops skills needed for students to become not just smart but also good.

Speakers include:

Keynote Speaker - Anne Baum - President of Vision Accomplished & Vice President of Capital Blue Cross of the Lehigh Valley

Jim Tice - Consultant with the US Attorney's Offce in Philadelphia

Darian Colbert - Youth Pastor at Life Church in Allentown

Rochelle Freedman - Coordinator of Project Child at Valley Youth House

Mike Brady - Program Coordinator of the Epiphany Project at KidsPeace

Hector Sanchez - Youth Motivational Speaker & Teen Coordinator, former inmate in PA State Prison System  (You don't want to miss his story!!!)

Mark Enriquez - Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Jane Wells Schooley - Business Owner at Dutch Springs Water Park, NorthStar Adventure, Keller Williams Real Estate

Topics to be covered include:

• Bullying
• Gangs
• Problems with the Education System
• Negative Influences that Affect Youth
• Lack of Caring Adults in Lives of Youth
• Hopelessness that Youth Feel

Who Should Attend this Seminar:

Business leaders, those who work with youth and/or families, (e.g., family center staff, health care workers, juvenile justice caseworkers, guidance counselors), volunteers working with young people (e.g., mentors, Scout Leaders), Parents (especially those with adolescents)

We are all stakeholders in the development of youth.  They are our future!

Doors open at 8:30am.  Program starts at 9:00am.  A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.  Come prepared with questions.  Speakers will participat in a panel discussion after the presentations are complete.

There is no charge to attend.  Please consider bringing a guest.  Forward this information to relatives, friends and co-workers.Register Now!