(Jackson, Miss.) — Scarlett Lewis, a Newtown, Conn., mother whose son was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and a number of other speakers for the Mississippi Child Welfare Institute have cancelled their appearances due to the weather.
Dr. Theresia Johnson-Ratliff, director of field education in JSU’s College of Public Service School of Social Work, said the conference will still continue Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 at the Marriott Hotel, 200 E. Amite St. in Jackson.
The theme of the 12th Annual Conference is “Child Welfare: Building Multi-Generational Teams to Serve Families and Communities.” The interdisciplinary conference focuses on the best and promising practices in the field of child welfare.
The only speaker who will be able to attend is Sarah Culberson, a philanthropist, dancer, actress, author and educator who co-founded and is president of Kposowa Foundation. Culberson is also director of Service-Learning at Oakwood School in Los Angeles.
Lewis established the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation after her son was killed in the Dec. 14, 2012, tragedy that claimed the lives of 25 others. The foundation collaborates with professional educators to bring lasting meaning to Jesse’s murder by developing school-based educational programs to promote peace and safety.
The conference schedule:
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Youth Empowerment Session
5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 13
Registration
7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Opening Plenary Session
8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Break
9:45 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
10 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Lunch on Your Own
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Plenary Session
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Concurrent Session
2:05 p.m.–3:05 p.m.
Break
3:05 p.m.–3:20 p.m.
Plenary Session
3:20 p.m.–4:20 p.m.
Concurrent Session
4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14
Plenary Session
8:20 a.m.–9:15 a.m.
Concurrent Session
9:20 a.m.–10:20 a.m.
Break
10:25 a.m.–10:40 a.m.
Concurrent Workshops
10:45 a.m.–12:00 noon
Closing Luncheon
12:15 p.m.–1:45 p.m.