CHICAGO — MAY 28, 2014 ) — ISSUE A: According to a study, a high percentage of crimes are committed by offenders who come from single parent or emotionally or financially broken homes. ISSUE B: Teen pregnancy is linked to single parent homes and high incarceration rates due to most teens being too young to effectively teach their child( ren ) to grow up properly. Consider if there was a prevention program for issue B that would help curb issue A. A new local program is bringing such prevention to Chicago teens. The 'S' Word Project, a free one day TEEN ONLY conference, which connects teen behavior in the "real world" and their sexual experiences to curb teen crime. The conference is set for Saturday, May 31st at the KLEO Center, 119 E. Garfield Blvd ( 55th & Michigan ) from 10am — 4pm and open male and female teens between the ages of 14-19.
The S Word Project creates a safe discussion space for teens to talk openly about sex in the presence of experts. When Founder of The S Word Project, Erin Thompson, was 17 she had an abortion, which lead to suicidal thoughts and bad behaviors such as consuming alcohol and marijuana to self-medicate. The result of this issue could have led to many illegal actions if she "did not have a breakthrough from honest-sharing adults," said Erin Thompson. Now 33, she doing something about youth who she knows that have had a similar experience, and those she wants to prevent from coming close to her experience.
To help make this event a success, Thompson enlisted the help of world renowned AIDS keynote speaker Rae Lewis-Thornton, and several other Chicago notables and teen pregnancy and prevention experts in the psychology, healthcare, social work and many other career fields. Some sharing include stories from the expert panel discussing STDs, maintaining virginity, baby momma drama, and abstinence and overcoming sexual trauma. Teens are expected to walk away with a wealth of information, access to resources and having a more powerful relationship to their own sexuality.
Meeting Location and Time: The KLEO Community Family Life Center, 119 E Garfield, Blvd. 10am — 4pm
Media Location and Time: The KLEO Community Family Life Center, 119 E Garfield, Blvd. 10:30am
Sponsors: Circle Y Ranch Youth Camp, The KLEO Community Family Life Center, AMAC Graphics, Deborah Maxwell Catering, DDY Communications, Go Fund Me account: www.gofundme.com/8n7258 .