CSUN Plans to Hold Conference on Violence

Cal State Northridge is hosting a free daylong conference Thursday that organizers say will help women and the community at large deal with issues of violence.

Workshops at the third annual Ending Violence Against Women event will focus on rape, elder abuse, same-sex domestic violence and sexual harassment in contexts ranging from a middle school to the workplace.

“Education is the first step to safety, and everyone can do something to help prevent violence at home and in their community,” said Jean Morrison, conference founder and planner.

Among the participant groups will be Haven Hills Shelter, the Valley Trauma Center and the Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley Clothesline Project.

Nearly 500 people attended last year, and organizers expect even more this time. The conference will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the University Student Union on the east side of the campus, 18111 Nordhoff St.

“We provide this one-stop shopping event for violence prevention as a public service for anyone interested in being part of the solution,” Morrison said.

A second presentation running concurrently with the conference is designed to teach educators how to recognize if a student is a victim of violence or abuse outside of school.

Subjects will include abuse in the home, as well as teens involved in abusive dating relationships.

The keynote speaker will be Joe Hicks, human relations director for Los Angeles. Hicks was recently involved in mediation in the beating of Principal Norman Bernstein at Burton Street Elementary School.

About 300 people have signed up for the concurrent presentation, which costs $10.

For information or to register, call (818) 636-6347.