Teens, Parents, Youth Workers Will Choose Respect

Contact: Cheryl Kravitz

301-580-8905

Toby Knapp to Emcee Opening Session of

2018 Choose Respect Conference on April 15

Popular radio host Toby Knapp will emcee the opening session of the 2018 Choose Respect conference in Montgomery County. The forum is scheduled Sunday, April 15 from 12 PM – 4:00 PM at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville.

Knapp is morning co-host for AC WASH-FM Washington, DC, weekdays from 5-10 AM. The popular radio personality has emceed Choose Respect multiple times and is returning because of his commitment to teaching young people about healthy teen relationships.

The free event is co-sponsored by the Montgomery County Public Schools. Parents, teens, youth service providers, educators and others will discuss teen dating and ways to establish healthy relationships. Registration is open here: https://chooserespect2018.eventbrite.com There are tracks for Spanish speaking youth and adults.

Free buses from Seneca Valley, Paint Branch, and Northwood High Schools are available. Pick up time at each school will be 11:15 am and will return immediately at the conclusion of the event. Please indicate if you wish to ride the bus and from what school on the registration form. Parking is available at Richard Montgomery High School although carpooling is recommended. Richard Montgomery is accessible from public transportation. Rockville Metro station is .6 miles from Richard Montgomery High School.

Winners of the Choose Respect Public Service Announcement contest will be announced at the event.

Tagline for the event is. #RespectYourSelfie2018. Everyone is encouraged to follow Choose Respect on social media: Facebook: Choose Respect Montgomery; Twitter: choose_respect and Instagram: @chooserespectmontgomery

Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend. One quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse. Students in sixth grade through high school are urged to attend. They will be in tracks according to age. One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. Pizza will be served following the event.