April 22 and 23: Students gather for Stand Up, Speak Out Conference

Stand Up! Speak Out! is the theme of the 2014 Students Leading Students Conference being presented by the Rainbow District School Board Student Senate on Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23, 2014. The conference will take place from 9 am to 2 pm at the West Residence Conference Hall (W-132) at Laurentian University. 

Guest speakers include former criminal, Rick Osborne, and former child soldier, Michel Chikwanine. Both speakers will share their experience with hardship, violence and striving for a better future. The conference will bring together approximately 100 students from Rainbow secondary schools.

“The purpose of the conference is to create opportunities for empowerment and to nurture leadership skills among Rainbow’s secondary school students,“ says Roberto Bagnato, Student Trustee with Rainbow District School Board and Chair of the Student Senate. “We want to give students tools and experiences to create change in their schools and achieve their goals. We hope they will come away with the necessary stepping stones to carry out their projects as student leaders now and into the future.”

 

“Students play a significant role in building healthy school environments where all feel welcome and valued. This conference will inspire students to be good role models and make a difference,” says Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. Director Blaseg commended Rainbow District School Board’s Student Senate for organizing and presenting this year’s Students Leading Students Conference, a key component of the Ministry of Education’s Student Success Initiative. 

Chaired by Student Trustee Roberto Bagnato of Lockerby Composite School, the Student Senate provides a regular forum for students to come together to network and share ideas. The Student Senate includes Cassandra Mazzuca of Lockerby Composite School; Heather Patterson and Simon Orser of Lively District Secondary School; Kali Mason and Rebekah Ederer of Sudbury Secondary School; Zoey Yao and Liam Brunton of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School; Cale Tegel and Bryana Weaver of Chelmsford Valley District Composite School; Mira El-Darazi and Courtney Farinha of Confederation Secondary School; Emmah Cacciotti and Jillien Lortie of Lasalle Secondary School as well as Daneen Maher of Espanola High School.

In grade school, Rick Osborne was bullied but never reached out or spoke up. After being victimized by a group of heroin addicts who, against his will, injected him with drugs, he was set on a path that included drug addiction, street gang involvement and, ultimately, his entrance into an outlaw motorcycle gang. At the age of 21, he was convicted of several crimes including robbery, weapons, assault, escaping custody and possession of narcotics. Osborne was sent to a Federal Penitentiary, where he earned a university degree. He went on to spend over 24 years of his life in 33 different institutions across Canada. He broke free from addictions and chose to dedicate the rest of his life informing youth about the dangers of gangs, drugs and criminal activity.

Michel Chikwanine, a former child soldier, has overcome struggles and unimaginable pain. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he witnessed the torture of his father, the rape of his mother and suffered torture of his own. Much of his childhood was ravaged by the death and decay of a war that claimed the lives of 5.8 million people, his father included. This forced him to be a child soldier. Michel now inspires individuals to believe in their ability to make a difference and leaves audiences with a new perspective on life, a sense of hope through social responsibility and a desire for change. To date, he has addressed over 100,000 people across North America.

8:30 am to 9:00 am	Registration
9:00 am to 9:15 am	Opening/Introductions
9:15 am to 9:45 am	Unique Communication
9:45 am to 11:15 am	Keynote Speaker – Rick Osborne
11:15 am to 11:45 am	Lunch
11:45 am to 12:45 pm	Breakout sessions
12:45 pm to 1:30 pm	What Does Your School Do?
1:30 pm to 2:00 pm	Day 1 Conclusion

8:30 am to 9:00 am	Registration
9:00 am to 9:05 am	Welcome/Opening Remarks
9:05 am to 9:45 am	Case Studies
9:45 am to 11:30 am	Keynote Speaker – Michel Chikwanine
11:30 am to 12:00 pm	Lunch
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm	Breakout sessions
1:00 pm to 1:20 pm	T-shirt time
1:20 pm to 1:30 pm	Day 2 Conclusion and Thanks
1:30 pm to 2:00 pm	End of the Day Fun