WILDWOOD – Cape Assist and the Cape May County Healthy Community Coalition held their annual Peer Leadership Conference at the Wildwoods Convention Center on Friday, Nov. 17. Over 370 student leaders from all of the school districts in Cape May County attended the event.
This year’s conference was titled “#CMCYouthStrong” and the keynote speaker was Jeffrey Bucholtz, director of ‘We End Violence’ in San Diego, California. “The speaker gave the students practical tools on how to handle bullying whether you are being a victim or a witness of bullying. He urged the students to be agents of change; I think he was able to convince most students that they ARE the ones who decide what is normal and acceptable online, and offline,” said Natalia Wilber, Cape Assist Healthy Community Coalition Coordinator/Community Educator, “It’s not some other people, it’s all of us collectively who create that norm.”
Students engaged with various community groups and participated in educational workshops taught by peer leaders and community educators. “Overall, it was amazing to see community organizations come together to bring information and resources to our youth. At the end of the day, all the students and advisors were charged with such positive energy,” said Wilber.
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