Sheriff's Office Steps it Up with Annual Youth Summit

Half Moon Bay students ages 12 to 18 years old will have an opportunity on Tuesday, March 19, to hear firsthand about what a road of drugs and jail can do to a person. They will also get a chance to learn how to pay it forward and let go of resentment and revenge at a Youth Summit hosted by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Activities League, City of Half Moon Bay and Cabrillo Unified School District.

The event will take place at Cunha Middle School from 1 to 6 p.m., showcasing former NFL Football tight-end Eason Ramson of the San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Cardinals, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills fame as the keynote speaker.

After turning his life around from bouts with illegal narcotics and incarceration, Eason is now a motivational speaker, and is listed as a 2009 director at the Bayview YMCA in the southeast corridor of San Francisco.

Last year's Youth Summit was held at Half Moon Bay High School and was organized in response to the 2011 gang shootings in Half Moon Bay. The idea for allocating increased funding towards youth programming in Half Moon Bay as a strategy to curb gang participation among youth and provide alternatives was first mentioned at a community meeting in 2011.

Guest speakers this year include:

Alana Hawkins - Law Program Manager with Fresh Lifelines for Youth

Kyle Brown - BA, CCN, CSCS, YFS, CMTA, NASM-CPT Celebrity Personal Trainer, Nutritionist, Author

Teresa Leach - Vice President and Director of Kindness Ambassador Program

Timothy Barley - Teen Esteem, Board Member and a chaplain for the San Ramon Valley Fire District

Kimberly King - Klemmer and Associates, Vice-President

Belinda Farrel - Former teacher, news reporter and mother of a former gang member

Robert O'Donnell - Ex gang member and current staff member of The Black Sheep Redemption Program

Barbara Bonilla - Director of Community Services for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, National P.A.L. Board of Directors Vice President

Deputy Wally Rosales – Deputy Sheriff with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office School Resource & Community Policing Unit.

All speakers will address youth rights and responsibilities, how to prevent cyber-bullying, a Kindness Ambassador Program, tips for a healthy body image and self-confidence, gang prevention, and more.

Parents are invited to join their teens following the summit at a BBQ sponsored by the Half Moon Bay Lions Club. A climbing wall and bicycle safety tips will be provided by San Mateo County Safe Routes to School Program. There will also be displays and raffle prizes, including an ipad.

IF YOU GO

Coastside Youth Summit

Tuesday, March 19, 1 to 6 p.m.

Cuhna Middle School, 600 Church Street, Half Moon Bay

To register, contact the Half Moon Bay Substation at (650) 726-8288 or e-mail youth_summit@smcgov.org.

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