Jr. Newtown Action Alliance to Hold Youth Summit This Saturday

Youth and adults can learn about issues surrounding the gun violence epidemic this Saturday at the Jr. Newtown Action Alliance’s #HonorWithAction Connecticut event. Held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Newtown High School, the Youth Leadership Summit on Gun Violence Prevention will have small, interactive workshops and large group activities, according to a May 17 press release. 

The Jr. NAA is a youth chapter of the Newtown Action Alliance, which was established after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Its aim is to unite and educate millennials on gun violence. 

The theme of this weekend’s event is gun violence prevention and will address issues like mental health, healing and advocacy through the arts. According to the release, speakers include: "New York Times bestselling author and UNICEF Ambassador Ishmael Beah, as well as Colin Goddard, Virginia Tech shooting survivor and one of the leading youth activists for gun violence prevention, currently a senior policy advocate for Everytown for Gun Safety (a newly formed collaborative organization from Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action)."

Tallie Nikitchyuk, a student at the Newtown Middle School, told the Jr. NAA she’s looking forward to becoming more politically active by attending the conference.

“There are things I think are important to speak out about,” she said in the release. "I've always felt too young and I'm never really sure how to go about it. I know I'll be able to take what I learn at the summit and apply it to many things.”

For more info, visit the Jr. NAA Facebook page. You can register for $35 at honorwithactionct.eventbrite.com. Tickets include breakfast, lunch and an evening reception.