'Up and Over' to Entertain the Rob Ingram Youth Summit Against Violence

Performance artists, "Up and Over," will headline the entertainment at the Rob Ingram Youth Summit Against Violence, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 21 at Highland Christian Center 7600 N.E. Glisan Street.

"Up and Over," are a group of artists and performers who tell real life stories of overcoming the odds. They include rapper, Zeke "Yung Mil" Jones; the hip hop ladies of Rose Bent; Mathias "Mighty" Mauk; One Kehleo; and the New Zoo Boyz as well as founder Javonnie Shearn.

Up and Over, who currently are touring high schools and youth centers in the Northwest, will perform during the lunch break. The morning session will feature a panel of youth speakers and break out groups. After lunch, youth will offer testimony to invited adults, who will include Mayor Sam Adams, County chair Jeff Cogen, school leaders and elected officials.

The 12 youth commissioners are high school students from around the Portland-metro region. They already have conducted 16 focus groups with young people to gather information for the summit.

They went to schools and youth centers, where they heard that violence is a real and painful presence in the lives of many youth. All youth are invited to the summit to share their views.

In the final three weeks leading up to the summit, the commissioners are working on a budget for the event. They are budgeting for two buses and bus tickets, to help all youth attend, as well as food, and prizes. Some of the of the easier decisions they are making are whether to raffle a Nook or a Kindle, and "Is it better to give away 10 $100 prizes or 40 gift cards for $25"?
If you're under 21, you can find out what they decided, and maybe take home one of those prizes, by attending the summit.