RED SPRINGS — Young people were encouraged to speak up Saturday at an event geared towards self-empowerment and police awareness.
The W&B Healthcare rehab on Main Street held the “We Care” event. Topics discussed were sexual harassment, bullying and developing a relationship with police officers that leads to positive outcomes.
Sandra Wilson, the CEO of W&B Healthcare, stressed at the event that more young people should go to college and not jail, which was one of the reasons for the event.
“We have to break the cycle,” she said about young people ending up in jail. “Once you get a record, the cards are stacked against your favor.”
Red Springs police Officer Whitney Malcolm first spoke about the importance of speaking out when a friend or someone they know is demonstrating alarming behavior, especially in wake of school shootings such as the recent one in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people.
“If you ever come in contact with a person that has these thoughts, please take that serious,” Malcolm said. “You never know with these kids — some may be joking but we have to take this seriously.”
Malcolm also spoke with the kids about not putting themselves in bad situations that could get them into trouble.
“Don’t be in places that predominantly have drug addicts,” she said. “No one wants to see you end up jail.”
Malcolm has been with the Red Springs Police Department for more than a year and said the community needs more outreach events for young people.
“We want these kids to see officers as helpers and not just enforcement,” Wilson said. “They need to know that they are there to help.”
After Malcolm spoke, parents asked questions about the rise of bullying in schools and their concerns about it going the bullies going unpunished by leadership.
“Bullying is one of the biggest problems kids face in school these days,” said Tashana Lambert, who said she has a son who is being bullied.
Malcolm agreed that bullying is a major problem in schools, and encouraged anyone who is being bullied to speak up.
“If you are ever bullied please let someone know,” she said.
Also at the event, young girls were pampered with a manicure and instructed on the importance of using their voice when they have been touched inappropriately. Wilson talked about healthy touches and unhealthy touches.
“You need to know that you have a right to your body,” Wilson told the girls. “You are not trash cans so don’t let anyone treat you like one.”
Wilson told the girls what to do if they see themselves in a situation with someone touching them inappropriately.
“You grab something and hit them over the head and then you tell somebody,” she said, a comment that was met with giggles.
About 200 door prizes were handed out, including toys, hygiene products, inspirational books and T-shirts. Food was also served.
“Our main goal for the girls is self-esteem awareness and for the boys is that school is cool,” said Tiffani Perkins-Washington, the event’s organizer.
W&B Health Care is a provider of structured outpatient substance abuse and mental illness treatment programs.
“We just wanted to let people know that were here,” Perkins-Washington said.
The post Youth told police are their friends appeared first on Robesonian.