The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is hosting its annual At-Risk Youth Symposium on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012, at 6:00 P.M. The presentation will take place at the Carter Park Social Center located at 1448 West Sunrise Boulevard in the City of Fort Lauderdale.

The program is intended to educate our younger population regarding the consequences of their actions and let them hear first-hand from members of the community who have experienced the same situations and pressures of growing up in an at-risk environment. The speakers will discuss their own experiences regarding drug abuse, committing crimes, joining a gang or going to prison. They will talk about how their choices affected not only their own lives, but the lives of their loved ones as well.

This presentation is free to the public and designed to help at-risk youth and first time juvenile offenders. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children. The speakers come from all walks of life and have donated their time in an effort to help deter at-risk youth from making the wrong decisions in life. The speakers are to include local activists, members of the State Attorney's Office Juvenile Division, as well as musicians.

The goal of the symposium is to inform at-risk youth of the dangers associated with a life of crime and help deter them from continuing down a path that will only lead to prison. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department prides itself on creating a safer community for everyone and understands the importance of educating our youth.

For more information, please contact Detective Rafael Bouyett at 954-828-5639.