May 11, 2017 2 min read

Washington Health System Teen Outreach will hold its 10th annual Ambassador for Respect program and its 24th annual Youth Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today in the Rossin Ballroom at Washington & Jefferson College.

All 14 school districts and the alternative school in Washington County will participate in the program that encourages young people to have respect for civil discourse.

The conference is entirely teen-driven. The adolescent advisory board has been preparing to facilitate the event since September. Each school district has created its own “country,” complete with flag, motto, quote, song, government, officials, resources, budgets, Bill of Rights or constitutions, tax structures and policies.

Nine high schools are participating as new countries. They are Avella, Beth-Center, Canon-McMillan, Chartiers-Houston, Charleroi, Fort Cherry, Ringgold, Trinity and Washington. Washington Junior High School also is participating.

Pre/post testing will measure cognitive growth. Peer educators will model respectful discussion. Over 130 high school students will attend.

A panel of community leaders will respond to each country’s press secretaries as they ask questions the students prepared in advance.

The panel consists of state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township; state Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane Township; Washington County Commissioners Larry Maggi, Harlan Shober and Diana Irey Vaughn; Washington Mayor Scott Putnam; Dr. Roberta DiLorenzo, superintendent of the Washington School District; Judge John DiSalle; Washington police Lt. Dan Stanek; Liz Rogers and Lucy Northrop Corwin from the Observer-Reporter; David Gatling from the NAACP; retired Col. Ros L. Gammon; Dr. James Longo and professor DR Bunting from Washington & Jefferson College; and Brook Ward from the Washington Health System.

The conference is cosponsored by W&J’s education department.