Written by Steven Chandler
Classes from the family and consumer science department are planning to host a conference entitled, “Overcoming Obstacles for Youth and Family” on Saturday, April 24, from 9 a.m until noon on the second floor of the Olen Hendrix building.
Crystal Whittington’s administration to early childhood programs class and Dr. Beth Wilson’s family life educational methodology class are teaming up to create a workshop that will serve two distinct purposes. It will give their students experience with planning workshops and events as well as provide professionals within the community continuing education credits up to the Ph.D. level. The continuing education credits benefit anyone working with families or children, such as people working in women’s shelters, children’s hospitals and the health department. Despite the continuing education credits, anyone is free to come to the workshop.
The workshop is completely student-run. Students from the two classes have to plan the entire event, everything from getting resources, publicizing the event and registration to presenting and leading the actual workshop sessions.
“We have certain forms requesting for equipment like overheads or video equipment,” senior Amber Williams said. “We have to follow steps as if it were a more intense conference.”
Students have come up with their own topics to discuss that fit into the overall topic, “Overcoming Obstacles for Youth and Family.” The titles of the workshop classes are as follows: “Life Management Skills,” “Teen Substance Abuse,” “A Gentle Touch of Love: Infant Massage,” “Books as Band-Aids,” “Expression through Movement,” “Incorporating Children with Special Needs” and “Can I Have a Time Out?”
“It’s going to give me experience if I have to do something like this or plan an event where I will have to oversee a lot of people, because I know that I’m not good at speaking in front of people, but this is forcing me to have that experience and push me past my limits,” Williams said. “The class itself, administration to early childhood programs, is teaching us to run our own program. It expands our horizons on how to plan and work together with a large group of people.”
The workshop will be divided into two sessions, one from 9 to 10:15 a.m. and the second at 10:45 to noon. A 15-minute break along with refreshments is provided between the two sessions. The conference is open to the public and free of charge. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, April 24.
