Join us for You Are Not Alone: A Community Conversation

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

 

The City of North Port invites the public to join us and our partners for a free community conversation about suicide awareness, prevention, and resources on April 28, 2022 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Morgan Family Community Center (6207 W. Price Blvd.). All are welcome to attend, and light refreshments will be provided. Breakout sessions will be available for both youth and adults, with registered mental health counselors available onsite who have experience working with youth, parents, community leaders, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

“The time is now to come together as a community to talk about providing our children more support in order to avoid another tragedy,” said City Manager, Jerome Fletcher.

The event will include a moment of silence to recognize those who have lost their lives to suicide, as well as breakout sessions with information about identifying the warning signs and risk factors of suicide and how you can connect with local resources that can assist someone in crisis. Panel presenters will include representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Florida (NAMI), the Safe Kids Coalition, and CAN-Community Health. In addition, North Port Police Department will present information about firearm safety and their cybercrime investigators will be providing an overview of the dangers that prowl the digital life of our youth. Topics to be covered are child exploitation, schemes to defraud, cyberbullying, and how parents/guardians can get involved.

Event Agenda*

  • 6:30 p.m. – Childcare Check-In and Refreshments
  • 7:00 p.m. – Event Start (Gymnasium)
  • 7:30 p.m. – Adult Breakout Session (Gymnasium) & Youth Breakout Session (Meeting Room)
  • 8:30 p.m. – Wrap-Up, Resource Fair, and Q&A (Gymnasium)
  • 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Registered mental health counselors available in private room

    *Please note, the Event Agenda is subject to change.

Childcare Options

Free childcare will be provided on site for children entering kindergarten through third grade (fourth graders and older are invited to join in the conversation happening in the youth breakout session). Advance registration for childcare is required as space is limited. Those interested can sign up online at https://bit.ly/YouAreNotAloneChildcare.

Community Partners & Sponsors

The City would like to thank our community partners and sponsors for helping make this event possible: Awaken Church, CAN-Community Health, Champion Realty Services, LLC, Deep Creek Community Church, Department of Children and Family Services, Holly’s Hope, Kiwanis Club, NAMI of Sarasota and Manatee Counties, North Port Area Chamber of Commerce, Publix, Safe Children Coalition, Sarasota County Schools, Wal-Mart Supercenter, WKDW 97.5 FM, Valerie’s House, and Zio’s Twelve 21 Pizzeria and Restaurant.