360 Strategy: DEA Philadelphia Hosts Youth Drug Summit at Temple University
On November 27, 2018, the DEA Philadelphia Field Division hosted a Youth Drug Summit at Temple University as part of the Division’s 360 Strategy program.
Over 350 students from the Alexander K. McClure Elementary School, the Isaac A. Sheppard School, the Bayard Taylor School, the St. Veronica School, and the Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School attended the Summit, which was designed to raise awareness and educate elementary school age children about drug awareness in a fun and dynamic environment.
The Summit included performances by the Temple University Theater Department and group breakout sessions with Hip-Hop Fundamentals, a breakdance education company that combines academic and social content with the world’s most dynamic dance form.
Additional sessions were also held with DEA Philadelphia Division staff and 360 Strategy partner, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), as well as a canine presentation by Bensalem Township Police Department Detective Christine Kelliher.
“It’s really fun. It’s entertaining and I would really like to come here again,” said Ahanexi Rosario, a 9-year-old student at the Sheppard Elementary School to a reporter that covered the Summit. “They were teaching us to avoid drugs and how to stay away from them.”
“Our efforts to educate children about the dangers of drug abuse are crucial now in light of the current opioid crisis,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan A. Wilson. “I would like to thank all of our partners that participated in the Summit that helped us make this event informative and fun for the students.”