INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON YOUTH VIOLENCE WILL BE FOCUS OF FREDERICKSBURG SEMINAR CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., April 16 -- Dewey Cornell, a University of Virginia educator nationally recognized for his expertise in youth aggression, will lead a seminar on the influence of media on violence and youth during a seminar at the Sheraton Inn in Fredericksburg. Cornell's talk will begin at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, during the Violence Prevention Institute. School and community leaders representing such areas as law enforcement, business, religion and social services will learn about factors that can reduce the potential for youth violence. Among the topics they will explore are gangs and aggressive behavior, youth leadership development, conflict mediation, parent and family involvement, and child abuse and domestic violence. In researching the causes of youth violence, Cornell has found, "What we have is not a single cause, but an array of risk factors that accumulate." Children who commit violent crimes are not always aggressive but often have common characteristics, such as membership in dysfunctional families where they are not taught self control and respect for others, according to Cornell, who has received Guggenheim Foundation funding to research juvenile violence. The children are often exposed to video games, television and films that promote violence, and they usually have access to weapons, noted Cornell, co-author of "Juvenile Homicide." During the seminar, Cornell, an associate professor in U.Va.'s Curry School of Education, will stress the importance of early intervention and prevention. He will also outline the major components of a comprehensive approach to reducing youth violence. Governor George AllenÕs office, with support from the United States Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, is holding the Violence Prevention Institutes around the state. The sessions are sponsored by the Center for School-Community Collaboration in Virginia Commonwealth UniversityÕs School of Education. ### April 15, 1996 Reporters: An institute schedule is enclosed. For more information, Dewey Cornell can be reached at (804) 924-0793. Television reporters should contact our TV News Office at (804) 924-7550. VIOLENCE PREVENTION INSTITUTE COMMUNITY-SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS Agenda Sheraton Inn 2801 Plank Road Fredericksburg,VA Day 1: April 22, 1996 TEAMING UP TO PREVENT VIOLENCE 9:30-10:30 a.m. OPENING SESSION Welcome: Dr. Gaynelle Whitlock VA Commonwealth University It Takes Community Teamwork To Combat Youth Violence Dr. Richard Vacca VA Commonwealth University Institute Overview Geraldine Marsh Va Commonwealth University 10:30-10:45 a.m. Break 10:45-12 p.m. GENERAL SESSION Looking at Your Own Community Geraldine Marsh and Team Facilitators 1:30-2:45 p.m. AFTERNOON SESSION Partnership Power Martie Raiss, Susan Herrington, Walter Dickerson, John Roger, Jenny Roger and Clift Russell PACE Norfolk 2:45-3 p.m. Break 3-4:15 p.m. STRATEGIES THAT WORK (Choose one) 1. Law Enforcement in Communities and Schools TBA 2. Mentorship Training Mary Pace Virginia Beach City Schools Pat Dillard Norfolk City Schools 3. Recreation as Prevention William Conkle Va. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation 4. Early Intervention Denise Hunt and Kathy Johnson Va. Institute for Dev. Disabilities, VCU 5. Initiating a Violence Prevention Plan Patricia Mahone Louisa County Schools Sharon Lindsay Louisa County Office on Youth 4:15-5:30 p.m. TEAM PLANNING WITH FACILITATORS DAY 2: APRIL 23, 1996 FOCUS ON YOUTH AND FAMILY 8:30-9:45 a.m. GENERAL SESSION Gangs and Aggressive Youth Behavior Terry DeCarbo PACE School, Prince William County 9:45-10 a.m. Break 10-11 a.m. HOT TOPICS, Session 1 (Choose One) 1. Developing Youth Leadership Sara Jo Williams, Hanover Co. Schools 2. Conflict Mediation for Beginners Becky Copenhaver, Chesterfield Co. Schools 3. Disruptive Youth in Communities Becky Kipper, Newport News Police Dept. Mike Harris, Newport News Schools 4. Involving PreTeensÕ Parents and Family Dr. Peggy Richardson, Port Republic Virginia Nuckols, Upperville 5. The ABCÕs of Coalition Building Mary Ellen Greenwood Partnership for the Prevention of Substance Abuse, Lynchburg 11-12 p.m. HOT TOPICS, Session 2 (Choose One) 1. Peer Helpers Sara Jo Williams 2. Conflict Mediation Ongoing Becky Copenhaver 3. Disruptive Youth in Schools Bobby Kipper and Mike Harris 4. Involving TeensÕ Parents and Family Dr. Peggy Richardson Virginia Nuckols 5. Overcoming Barriers in Coalitions Mary Ellen Greenwood 1-2 p.m. YOUTH PANEL - Fairfax County Schools Ray Watson, Moderator Students: Bryce Adams, Marlon Alfaro, Zahra Amanpour, Amin Khaliqi, Elizabeth Lowrey and Shaquita Reid 2-2:15 p.m. Break 2:15-3:30 p.m. AFTERNOON SESSION The Influence of Media on Youth and Violence Dr. Dewey Cornell University of Virginia 3:30-5 p.m. TEAM PLANNING WITH FACILITATORS 7-8:30 p.m. TEAM PLANNING WITH FACILITATORS DAY 3: APRIL 24, 1996 BARRIERS AND RESOURCES 8:30-10 a.m. MORNING SESSION Effects of alcohol and Other Drugs on Violence TBA 10-10:15 a.m. Break 10:15-11:30 a.m. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS: (Choose One) 1. Resources and Funding for Communities and Schools Arlene Cundiff VA Department of Education Mary Shea Sutherland VA Office of Public Safety Eliot Rosenbloom VA Department of Social Services 2. Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Harriet Russell VA Commission on Family Violence Prevention, Richmond 3. Courts and Legal Issues Dana Schrad Va. Association of Chiefs of Police 11:30-1:15 p.m. Lunch LEGISLATIVE RESPONSES TO YOUTH VIOLENCE The Honorable William C. Mims Virginia House of Delegates 1:15-2:30 p.m. WRAP-UP SESSION