The annual YAR conference had another successful run this year. On June 11, hundreds of youth providers converged on the Endicott College campus for this once a year ritual. For the 8th straight year, YAR and Endicott College welcomed Essex County teachers, social workers and counselors, community and public health workers, law enforcement and many more for a day of educational and networking opportunities. The conference is the only one of its kind in the region.
New this year was online registration, an expanded Non-Profit Exposition, longer workshops, and more youth presenters. A panel of students from the North Shore Recovery High School in Beverly served as the conference keynote and they spoke candidly about their struggle with substance abuse and their future plans.
Here is a glimpse of the day:
· 425 professionals, parents and youth from Essex County and beyond
· more than 100 non-profit organizations serving youth represented
· 28 Essex County communities represented
· 30 non-profits exhibited, sharing best practices and distributing helpful materials and resources
· 30 workshops on therapies, substance abuse, gay and lesbian issues, sexuality education, special education and much more
· 7-member student panel keynote from Northshore Recovery High School (more than half the student body were in attendance to support their classmates)
· 11 youth from Express Yourself performing
