David Banner and Jasmen Rogers to Keynote while Jawan Strader Hosts ‘Cocktails & Conversations’ Kickoff

MIAMI – The 6th Annual South Florida Youth Summit (SFYS), presented by L.E.A.D Nation in partnership with the Knight Foundation, will take place October 18-20 under the theme “Youth and Justice.” Grammy award-winning music producer, recording artist, philanthropist, speaker, actor and activist David Banner will serve as the keynote speaker for the adult-only kick-off event, Cocktails & Conversations. He will be joined by Jasmen Rogers-Shaw, Political Strategist, and Emmy award-winning journalist, NBC 6 anchor and host of Black Voices Jawan Strader will serve as the night’s host.

The Summit is the brainchild of State Representative and L.E.A.D. Nation co-founder Shevrin Jones. It is designed to provide knowledge-based enrichment activities in an interactive setting to empower youth to live up to their full potential.

"We are excited about the 6th Annual South Florida Youth Summit. Looking at the direction of our nation and our communities, the time is now that we not only encourage our youth, but we empower them – empower them to do more and greater than they can imagine, to be the change they want to see and be,” Jones said.

The Summit targets students in grades 6-12 and provides experiential learning in 6 focus areas:

• STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
• Leadership Development
• Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Financial Education
• Youth Violence Prevention
• Childhood Obesit
  

The weekend of activities will begin with Cocktails & Conversations featuring Banner and Rogers-Shaw on Thursday, October 18 at 7 p.m. at the Miramar Multi-Service Complex, 6700 Miramar Pkwy in Miramar. The Leaders In Training (LIT) Youth Rally is scheduled for Friday, October 19, 9 a.m. until noon at Broward College’s South Campus, 7200 Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines. The goal of LITis to groom high school students to be effective advocates for issues they believe in. The finale will be the Youth Summit on Saturday, October 20, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  at Miami Dade College North Campus. Students will participate in a full-day of seminars, workshops and panel discussions designed to teach them strategies in creating positive and innovative social change in their communities.

For more information about the Summit and LEAD Nation, visit www.leadnation.org.