Press Release

April 5, 2006
Contact: Melissa Campbell
Phone: (973) 972-4564
Cambme1@umdnj.edu

300 Essex County Teens to Attend Health and Personal Development Forum

NEWARK—Teens from across the county will gather on Friday, April 7, at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark to participate in a youth health forum designed to help keep adolescents safe from HIV through education, better decision making and personal accounts from celebrities and others.

The second annual forum is sponsored by UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School's Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine (DAYAM), which is part of the medical school’s Pediatrics Department.

The event is not open to the public but interested media representatives are invited to attend. Please call Melissa Campbell at New Jersey Medical School for more details, and a complete schedule of events.

Robert Johnson, MD, interim dean of New Jersey Medical School, Chair of the Pediatrics Department, and DAYAM founder and director, will welcome participants. Dr. Johnson will be joined by Paulette Stanford, MD, also of the Pediatrics Department, and DAYAM Associate Director.

Panel discussions will include Ras Baraka, vice principal of Weequahic High School, an active supporter of youth issues who was instrumental in brokering the 2004 Newark Cease Fire/Peace Initiative; Chris Sainsbury of Bad Boy Entertainment and fitness trainer for MTV's reality show "Making the Band;" and AJ Calloway, former host of BET's "106 and Park."

Keynote speakers include Marvelyn Brown of Nashville CARES (Community AIDS Resources, Education and Services) and William Brawner from the Office of HIV Planning in Philadelphia.

The day's events also include a presentation by P.O.W.E.R. (Peer Outreach Workers Educating Risktakers), which relies on theatrical presentations and skits focusing on teen issues and decision making as a tool to educate.

Other topics include:
Teen Parenting From the Father’s Point of View
Hip Hop and the Media
Anger Management
The Law and You
Neighborhood Issues
HIV Basic Facts
Daring Violence
Homophobia

The event is supported by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of HIV/AIDS Service as well as the Prudential Foundation.