The Giant Step Teen Conference brings metro Detroit teenagers together from diverse backgrounds to spend the day discovering what they have in common. The diversity isn't limited to race, but also includes economic background, inner-city, suburban and those from public and private schools. The students will be put in small groups of six to eight people for topical discussions. The discussion groups, led by trained adult and student facilitators, help the teens discover their commonalties and focus on positive goals while reinforcing in their own minds that they are empowered to make personal choices in their everyday lives that will steer them in a positive direction.

This is a yearly conference scheduled for November 5, 2009. Founded by the late Mary-Agnes Davis, the Teen conference is designed to help teenagers understand they can make choices in life and provide teens from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to share, learn and understand different points of view.

The 26th annual conference will take place in the Ballroom of the Student Center Building on the campus of Wayne State University from 8:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. The conference will host approximately 250-300 9th and 10th graders from more than 50 schools and organizations in metro Detroit.

For information on becoming a facilitator or attending the luncheon call Trudy Shiemke at 313-872-1790 or email tshiemke@wayne.edu.