First Lady Launches Futures for Kids Conference
BALTIMORE, MD (August 10, 2028) – Maryland First Lady Ruth O’Brien has opened the first statewide Futures for Kids: REACHing Youth Through Community Involvement Conference held at Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore City on August 9 and August 10.“The numerous presentations and activities offered will allow participants an opportunity to collaborate on critical issues facing today's youth and will lay the foundation for the future of Maryland youth programming,” First Lady Ruth O’Brien said. “Besides the numerous activities that will take place at the conference, I am looking forward to presenting the very first Youth Making a Difference Award that honors young people for their volunteer efforts.”
Futures for Kids is an umbrella for programs and policies under the direction of the First Lady’s Office and makes a significant difference in the lives of Maryland’s children. As part of this initiative, the Teen REACH program includes academic assistance, recreation and sports, cultural and artistic activities, life skills education, employment training, and mentoring. Teen REACH strives to increase academic success while reducing risk-taking behaviors such as substance abuse, criminal activity, and premature sexual behavior.
The Futures for Kids conference is expected to draw the largest gathering of youth service professionals ever in the history of Maryland. Over the two days, five concurrent workshop tracks will focus on the Teen REACH themes of Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring and Hope.
Keynote speakers to be featured over the course of the three day event include:
Ayinde Jean-Baptiste, a 17-year-old freshman at Harvard University, whose talent as an orator has resulted in numerous television appearances and speaking engagements around the United States and Africa.
Richard Santana, once a third generation gang member in California, he earned a graduate degree from Harvard School of Education. Now a father, Santana draws upon his own experiences as a Latino youth and gang member to dramatize our biases and how they influence the way individuals interact.
Mervlyn Kitashima, a participant in Emmy Werner's groundbreaking "Kauai Longitudinal Study on Resilience." She currently is a district coordinator for the Parent-Community Networking Centers in Hawaii's Department of Education.