The fourth annual Law and Justice Youth Conference will take place Saturday at the UF Levin College of Law.
The conference is for at-risk middle school students from the Gainesville and Ocala areas. The conference focuses on teaching at-risk youth about their rights and responsibilities in the community. The theme for the conference is Community Works.
“When we come together as a community, and we put our minds together, and we put our hearts together, the community as a whole will work,” said Meshon Rawls, a UF master legal skills professor.
AuBroncee Martin, an assistant public defender, said he wants to help the students develop their critical thinking skills so they can better express themselves.
This year’s motivational speaker will be Joe Johnson, a former college athlete who is now pursuing a Ph.D. in counselor education at UF.
After the motivational speech, lawyers, judges and law students are put into groups to give their presentations and conduct workshops for the students.
“We want them walking away understanding that they play a role in the community,” Rawls said.
[A version of this story ran on page 8 on 2/6/2015 under the headline “UF law school to host youth conference"]
