LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — While at Hall STEAM Magnet High School on Thursday, students weren't learning about your normal subjects— they learned some life lessons as well.
"School is not just about math, science, English, and social studies, it's about preparing young people to be productive citizens in our society," Principal Carlton McGee said. "They'll benefit a lot, learn a lot from it, and be able to take what they learn and utilize it in their everyday life."
The 2023 Nonviolence Youth Summit held in Cirks Arena aimed to create conversations about nonviolence, and de-escalation.
"Programs like this, you know, it says a lot for the community, for individuals wanting change," DuShun Scarbrough with the Arkansas MLK Commission, said.
The commission put on this summit, but it was a collaboration between multiple agencies. Topics discussed included financial literacy, mental health, bullying, and mental health.
"We can get in now, we can change the perspective now while we have them in school, where you have a captive audience," Kimberly Key-Bell, Assistant Director of Youth Services at DHS, said. "Let's make use of the time that they are here."
Little Rock Police Department's Chief Heath Helton was also part of the conversation.
"It's important for me to relate as a Chief to young people, like hey, this is not the way," he said. "These actions not only impact the victims, but their families have to deal with this over and over again."
His biggest message was that there are people out there who want to help.
"There are people within the community that care, you know?" he said. "They are a valuable resource for our community, for our society, they're important to us, and I would encourage them to look, open up some dialogue, communicate."
While the summit may have focused on the students, those in charge explained how there also may be an opportunity for parents to get involved as well.
"You [can] be a change agent for our kids," Key-Bell said. "Let your kids see you doing the positive things, making a positive impact!"