Members of Greenwich High School’s Rowan Center Student Advisory Board, in partnership with The Rowan Center and Greenwich Library, have organized a panel on college safety designed for current high school juniors and seniors and their families.
GHS students Nora Stern (left), Ava Jackson (right), and Leah Woodward (not shown) are organizing “Learn Before You Leave,” a panel on campus safety at Greenwich Library on Thursday, May 30, 2024
“Learn Before You Leave” will take place on Thursday, May 30, 7:00-8:00 pm, at the Greenwich Library Marx Family Black Box Theater.
Space is limited and advance registration is required.
Organized by Greenwich High School students Ava Jackson (11th grade), Nora Stern (9th grade), and Leah Woodward (12th grade), “Learn Before You Leave” panelists will lead a candid discussion about preventing violence and staying safe on college campuses.
Experts will present current data and real-world advice for both students and parents regarding college life and personal safety.
The session will help facilitate open dialogue at home and among friends before students leave for college, and during their time away.
The panel will feature experts from Kids in Crisis, The Rowan Center, Fordham EMS, and the UCONN Police.
Ellen Brezovsky, LCSW, is Director of Outreach & Community Initiatives, Kids In Crisis.
Sarah Malhotra is Director of Education and Training, The Rowan Center.
Colleen Sherry is Chief of Medical Operations, Fordham EMS.
Magdalena Silver, PhD, is Deputy Chief of Police, UCONN Police.
“College can be daunting, especially when you don’t know what to expect,” organizer Ava Jackson said, adding, “We anticipate that this panel will have a lasting impact on high school students in our community, and that it will allow for open discussion among students, parents, first responders, and educators. We are so grateful for the amazing experts donating their time to participate. We hope it is the first of an annual event.”
Organizer Nora Stern said, “My peers and I wanted to facilitate a conversation about the risk of living in a new environment as young adults. Issues like partner abuse, unsafe drinking, and mental health are often aggravated by living on campus and away from parents. But awareness and open dialogue can help reduce the risks.”
Organizer Leah Woodward also commented. “As a rising college freshman, this work is important to me. I have plenty of questions and uncertainties about the next four years, and imagine my peers do as well. It’s important to create a space to facilitate discussion about these topics so we can all be thoughtful and intentional members of our college communities. Hope to see many fellow students there.”
To register for “Learn Before You Leave,” visit: https://greenwichlibrary.
The Rowan Center counsels victims and survivors as they process their experiences of sexual violence from the past, it advocates for them as they navigate the circumstances of the present, and it educates communities to prevent sexual violence in the future. The mission of Greenwich Library is to provide exceptional resources, programs and services that promote the joy of lifelong learning and discovery, and to offer a welcoming place for people to gather and share experiences.
For more information on “Learn Before You Leave,” contact Amy Laughlin, Teen Services Librarian, Greenwich Library, [email protected]