Staff Report

MIAMI, FL – One thousand middle school boys, 300 police officers, and mothers who lost children to gun violence participated in a Police and Youth Conference hosted by The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project Founder Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson, on Tuesday at Miami-Dade College North Campus. The conference concluded with a march led by Congresswoman Wilson to unveil a new billboard sponsored by Clear Channel Outdoor located at 27th Avenue and 106th Street. The billboard depicts solidarity between police and youth along with a powerful messaged aimed at ending gun violence.

“I see hope for the future,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “We all know that there is tension between young boys of color and police officers. The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project hosts these annual conferences to foster better relations between police and youth which helps ease that tension.”

Students from 34 middle schools participated in interactive workshops with law enforcement personnel. Top brass and police officers representing several municipalities joined together to facilitate the workshops with the goal of educating youth on how to interact with law enforcement.