On Saturday, Dec. 9, Superintendent of Schools Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., will join Ivy and Pearls of Southern Maryland Community Charities and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Nu Zeta Omega Chapter of Waldorf for their public policy forum on Giving Hope: Addressing the Crisis of Suicide Amongst Black Youth. The event will take place at the College of Southern Maryland, La Plata campus in the Center for Business and Industry (BI) Building, Room 113 from 10 a.m. to noon. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m., and the event is free and open to the public with registration required to attend.

The forum’s goal is to address the mental health of Black youth, educate about the issues that can impact youth and provide resources for parents. Mental health experts and healthcare professionals will facilitate breakout sessions for parents and youth during the event. The Charles County Public School System provides an academically challenging education to 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive, and high-quality education that builds character, equips for leadership, and prepares students for life, careers, and higher education. The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation