Toby Knapp to Emcee Opening Session of 2019 Choose Respect

March 5, 2019: Popular radio host Toby Knapp will emcee the opening session of the 10^th annual 2019 Choose Respect conference in Montgomery County. This free event is scheduled for Sunday, April 7 from 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. Students in sixth grade through high school are urged to attend as well as parents and youth providers. A Red Carpet “selfie wall” will take place from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM along with a resource fair. The opening session begins at 1:30 PM.

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 hosted by the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and co-sponsored by 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://chooserespect2019.eventbrite.com.

There are workshops for Spanish speaking youth and adults. Student workshops will be assigned according to age and are led by the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Men Can Stop Rape and TurnAround, Inc. Students who attend will receive SSL hours. Winners of the Choose Respect Public Service Announcement contest will be announced at the event.

“The Choose Respect Conference was born out of personal concerns for a friend of my daughter who was in a non-healthy relationship. It is so important to learn the signs – to know that emotional and physical control is not ok. Education is key,” said Judge Marielsa A. Bernard, founder of Choose Respect.

Free buses from Seneca Valley High School and Blair High School are available. Pick up time at each school will be 11:45 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.

According to Debbie Feinstein, Chief of the Special Victims Division in the State’s Attorney’s office and Chair of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, one in three females and one in seven males report facing teen dating violence, one in 10 Maryland high school students report experiencing physical violence in a dating relationship and one in 10 report suffering sexual dating violence in a dating relationship.

The first 100 students to register and attend the event will get a gift card for a free meal at Cava. There will be free pizza and raffle prizes for those attending.

Everyone is encouraged to follow Choose Respect on social media:

Facebook: Choose Respect Montgomery

Twitter: @choose_respect

Instagram: @chooserespectmontgomery