SMITHFIELD - Reservations are being taken by the Brightway Center for a teen dating violence workshop.
The first session will be held March 19, with sessions scheduled for April 23 and May 4. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p..m.
Kara Bright, founder of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the Tri-State Area, had a vision for young people - to create a place where people can come together in athletic, educational and Biblical programs and develop Christian values, growth and leadership in the process.
Bright's dream to develop the family farm on county Road 15, outside Smithfield for a community-oriented area, did not die with him in 2005. A board of supervisors with Daryle Griffin, brother of two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin, as chief executive officer promised to uphold his dream and work has been under way for some time, with renovations to the family home nearly complete.
Daryle Griffin will speak at the Smithfield Village Council meeting at 7 p.m. on March 1 to discuss the center and its advantages to the community.
"We have been here for some time and want to catch everyone up to date on our progress," said Cathy Takach, a volunteer with the group.
Bright held Christian-based programs at the farm when he was was alive and active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Brightway plans to continue working with youth. The teen dating violence prevention workshop will let youth know there are people who care, people who want to listen and people who want the teens to realize their own self-worth, center officials said..
The workshop is the first in a series that will focus on providing the youth with tools needed to put an end to violence, a spokesman said.
The call to end teen dating violence was formally recognized by Congress in 2006, when both houses of Congress declared the first full week in February as "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week." Now, the entire month has been devoted to this cause, officials was noted.
The seminar series is designed to equip participants with the skills to recognize the warning signs and patterns of abusive relationships. The workshop will also arm participants with the tools and resources to seek help for themselves or a friend.
Workshops held at Brightway are for any church, school, youth group or other organization to sign up their members.
Groups also may schedule their own private workshop at the center.
Additionally, if the group prefers, facilitators are available to conduct workshops at their own designated location as well as provide workbooks, worksheets and other related materials.
The workshops are available for male and female students, ages 14-18. Males and females will be split into separate groups for a portion of the day and will be brought back together for discussion.
There will be many new programs and events targeted toward youth in the months to come and beginning April 1, conference rooms and meeting spaces will be available for rent by businesses, the community, individuals and those looking for a meeting space in a beautiful setting.
The home is equipped with restrooms, a full kitchen and is wheelchair accessible.
Four meeting spaces will be available; a large conference room with seating for 14, two smaller conference rooms with seating for eight and an intimate gathering room for four guests.
To set up a tour or make reservations, call Jennifer Trehar at (347) 601-8000 or e-mail at jtrehar@brightwaycenter.org.
(McCoy can be contacted at emccoy@heraldstaronline.com.)
