On Saturday, December 9, Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS), will join Ivy and Pearls of Southern Maryland Community Charities and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Nu Zeta Omega Chapter of Waldorf for a public policy forum on addressing the crisis of suicide among Black youth. The event, titled “Giving Hope: Addressing the Crisis of Suicide Amongst Black Youth,” will take place at the College of Southern Maryland’s La Plata campus in the Center for Business and Industry (BI) Building, Room 113 from 10 a.m. to noon. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m., and attendance is free with registration required.

Navarro will be part of a panel discussing Parental Training: Youth Mental Health First Aid. The goal of the forum is to address the mental health of Black youth, educate about the issues that can impact youth and provide resources for parents. Mental health experts and healthcare professionals will also be present, with facilitated breakout sessions for parents and youth.

CCPS provides an academically challenging education to over 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 across 37 schools in Southern Maryland. The Charles County public school system offers a technologically advanced, progressive, and high-quality education that builds character, equips students for leadership, and prepares them for life, careers, and higher education. CCPS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion