Expert on youth at risk to speak here May 4-6

Martin Brokenleg, an internationally acclaimed expert on youth at risk, will be speaking at three free sessions in Revelstoke this week.

Martin Brokenleg

“His visit is a collaboration of many community partners: the Revelstoke Early Childhood Development Committee, School District No. 19, the Teachers’ Association, the Multicultural Society, and the Child and Youth Mental Health Substance Use Collaborative Local Action Team,” Ariel McDowell, School District 19’s district principal for Student Services and Aboriginal Education, told The Current.

“There are three sessions. One on Thursday evening, May 4, on strengths in early childhood from 6 pm to 8 pm (this will be followed by further discussion and refreshments from 8 pm until 9 pm), one all day Friday, May 5, (from 9 am until 3 pm) on building resiliency in youth, and one on Saturday, May 6, (from 10 am until noon) on mobilizing communities.”

There are no costs to attend these sessions, which are to be held at the Performing Arts Centre, but prospective participants are asked to confirm their attendance by calling 250-837-2101. Please click here to view the poster.

Martin Brokenleg is an internationally renowned Lakota Sioux family-care expert, and co-author of the book Reclaiming Youth at Risk: our hope for the future and co­ developer of the Circle of Courage Model, a model of positive youth development based on the universal principle that to be emotionally healthy all youth need a sense of belonging, mastery, independence and generosity.

He holds a doctorate in psychology and is a retired professor who was most recently director of Native Ministries and professor of First Nations Theology at the Vancouver School of Theology. For 30 years, Brokenleg was professor of Native American Studies at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He has also been a director of The Neighborhood Youth Corps, chaplain in a correctional setting, and has extensive experience as an alcohol counselor. He is familiar speaking with audiences composed of parents, caregivers, teachers, community leaders and anyone who cares for and about children, and youth.