Involving Youth in Violence Prevention:
Web Conference

Presenters


Susan Morrel-Samuels, MPH, MA,



Ms. Morrel-Samuels is the Managing Director of the Prevention Research Center of Michigan and Flint's Youth Violence Prevention Center at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She has been involved youth violence prevention research for over ten years in projects including the Michigan Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, the Genesee County Neighborhood Violence Prevention Collaborative, and Youth Empowerment Solutions for Peaceful Communities. She co-directed the Flint Photovoice project, an innovative research strategy using photography for community assessment. Ms. Morrel-Samuels teaches a course on youth violence at the School of Public Health. Prior to joining the University of Michigan, Ms. Morrel-Samuels was a Program Manager and Trainer for Hawaii Healthy Start, a child abuse and neglect prevention program that has been replicated widely throughout the United States.

Sarah Raskin, MPH


Ms. Raskin is a CDC Research Fellow. Her human rights-driven approach to violence prevention has been awarded for its "creative approach to global public health problems," and has taken her from southern Appalachia to Tanzania. She also volunteers in harm reduction. She co-wrote the semi-documentary play "Women and War," which President Jimmy Carter calls "a rich example of the social power of cultural arts (that) reflects the importance of pursuing peace around the globe." Ms. Raskin will start working toward her PhD in Medical Anthropology at the University of Arizona this fall.

Pamela L. Riley, Ed.D.



Dr. Riley is the Executive Director of the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere. SAVE is a nonprofit organization that strives to decrease the potential for violence in our schools and communities by promoting student involvement in crime prevention, conflict management, and service learning activities. She was drawn to her current position because of her desire to ensure that schools are able to fulfill their educational missions. Her previous work in schools exposed her to the fact that schools today are in need of assistance to ensure that they are places which are free of crime and conducive to learning.

Everett Roberts, MS




Mr. Roberts is employed by the University Of Michigan School Of Public Health. He is the Program Manager for the Youth Empowerment Solutions for Peaceful Communities Program. He has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Public Health Education and a Masters in Science Administration from Central Michigan University. Over his 28 year career some of the positions he has served in include Environmental Health Specialist, Substance Abuse Therapist, Administrator in Community Education, and Community Outreach Coordinator. He has a passion for working with youth and improving his community.


Channing Shor




Ms. Shor, a senior at Middle Creek High School, is the National SAVE Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Chair. This year will be Ms. Shor's fourth year involved with SAVE and her third year on the YAB. Shor served as the Vice Chair on the 2004-2005 YAB and as Secretary on the 2003-2004 YAB. She is interested in increasing SAVE chapters on the middle school level, and creating lasting clubs in high schools. She strongly believes that mdidle school can be a tough time for most youth and if they have something important to be involved in then there would be a decrease in school violence.

Neosha Timmons



Ms. Timmons is an eighth grade student at Holmes Middle School in Flint, Michigan. She is the President of the Youth Empowerment Solution’s leadership council. Ms. Timmons is involved in various sports after school including basketball, softball, track, and volleyball. She is active in her church youth group as a singer and dancer and participates in the Science Olympics at Holmes Middle School.


Andres Villaveces, MD, PhD



Dr. Villaveces is a Research Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the UNC School of Public Health. He has been working in the injury and violence field for over ten years. He has methodological expertise in the design, conduct, and analysis of injury prevention interventions both in the areas of violence prevention and unintentional injuries. He has evaluated policies aimed at reducing firearm violence. Dr. Villaveces worked as a medical officer at the Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. There, he conceived and developed the TEACH-VIP curriculum and training program. He authored several modules in collaboration with several researchers from around the world. He also co-authored WHO policy documents on violence prevention.