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Northern Kentucky University hosts ‘An Evening of Hope’ in collaboration with local school districts


Northern Kentucky University partners with local schools to shine a light on barriers to education facing youth experiencing homelessness.

The event, “An Evening of Hope,” takes place Tuesday, in Greeves Hall.

Building on the success of NKY Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, this year’s featured keynote speakers are best-selling author Josh Shipp and Dr. Robert Shapiro.

“It’s important that we examine the issues that are an unfortunate reality for many families in our region, and we are proud to host a discussion on homelessness,” said Dr. Valerie Hardcastle, St. Elizabeth Healthcare executive director of the Institute for Health Innovation. “Both featured speakers have a powerful story to share that brings to life the issues facing area youth.”

Keynote speaker Josh Shipp attributes his success to the power of a caring adult. Without their  guidance, statistics show he could be in jail, homeless or quite possibly dead. 

A former at-risk foster child turned youth advocate, Shipp is renowned for “Teen Trouble,” a documentary series on A&E and Lifetime that followed his groundbreaking work with youth and families.

He has written two bestselling books to date, The Grown-Up’s Guide to Teenage Humans – winner of the Nautilus Gold Award for Parenting & Family – and The Teen’s Guide to World Domination.

Dr. Robert Shapiro is the director of the Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He directs the hospital child abuse team and specializes in Child Abuse Pediatrics.

“Each year over 7,000 children and youth experience homelessness in our Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. It is imperative that as a community we recognize and address the educational barriers our students face,” said Shelley Werner, Families in Transition Coordinator for Erlanger Elsmere Schools.

• What: An Evening of Hope

• When: Nov.19, 2019, 6:30 p.m.

• Where: Greaves Hall, NKU’s School of the Arts Building

The event is supported by Education Leads Home, a national campaign focused on improving educational outcomes for children and youth who experience homelessness. The event is free, but guests are encouraged to bring a non-perishable breakfast item. All items collected will be donated to FUEL NKU, the on-campus food pantry. For more information and to RSVP, click here. EILA Credits are available.

Presenting partners include Boone County Schools, Campbell County Schools, Kenton County Schools, Bellevue Independent Schools, Dayton Independent Schools, Southgate Independent Schools, Covington Independent Public Schools, Erlanger Elsmere Schools, Newport Independent Schools and Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services.

NKU is a growing metropolitan university of more than 14,000 students served by more than 2,000 faculty and staff on a thriving suburban campus near Cincinnati.

For more information, click here.

NKU


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