STUDENT SAFETY

CONFERENCE 2025

July 21st - 22nd

At The California Endowment

Sessions that Inspire

See What’s Coming to the 2025 Student Safety Conference

Each session featured at this year’s Student Safety Conference reflects a deep commitment to student well-being, equity, and community-driven solutions.

From youth mental health to violence prevention and restorative practices, presenters will share practical tools and powerful insights grounded in real-world experience.

Whether you're an educator, advocate, or service provider, these sessions are designed to spark dialogue, strengthen collaboration, and inspire action. Explore the ideas shaping the future of student safety.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

  • Fabian Debora

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Executive Director, Homeboy Art Academy

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  • Sarah Hartono

    FEATURED SPEAKER

    Co-Founder & COO, MiLLU

    Read Bio

  • Paul Carrillo

    FEATURED SPEAKER

    Vice President, GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention

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  • Dayquian Baker

    STUDENT SPEAKER

    Student, Long Beach City College

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  • Sena Lee

    FEATURED SPEAKER

    Co-Founder & CEO, MiLLU

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Conference Workshops

Using Intentional Feedback and Reinforcement to Build Intentional Skills in Young People that Increase Student Safety
Anne Larson
Professor, Cal State LA
Dion McKenzie
Instructor/Consultant, Cal State LA
Interactive Workshop Session Time: 07/21, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Distinguish between positive and corrective feedback and reinforcement and understand the best circumstances for delivering both types
  • Message corrective feedback and reinforcement in a way that is motivating to young people
  • Identify instances for giving positive feedback and reinforcement specific to building key skills — even in moments of misbehavior
Integrating Restorative Justice in the School Setting
Lyra Monroe
Director, Restorative Justice Resource Center
James Ramos
Advisor, Restorative Justice Resource Center
Mindy McBowman
Board Member, Restorative Justice Resource Center
Interactive Workshop Session Time: 07/22, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Facilitate transformative community-building circles
  • Foster trust, empathy, and belonging among students and staff
  • Apply restorative justice practices in classrooms and school systems
  • Shift from punitive responses to relational ones that repair harm and support mental health
Drive Change: Student Voices for Safer Roads
Alondra Jimenez
Education Outreach Manager, Impact Teen Drivers
Roberto Gomez
Public Information Officer, California Highway Patrol
Interactive Workshop Session Time: 07/22, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Address reckless and distracted driving with evidence-based education
  • Present Impact Teen Drivers’ programs effectively in communities
  • Communicate clearly about teen driving behaviors and GDL laws
Enhancing School Safety – A Community Driven Approach by Strong Shoulders Agency
Pastor Tyrice Cagle
Executive Director, Strong Shoulders Agency
Ben "Taco" Owens
Executive Director, Detours
Jasmine Desenclos
Project Manager, Urban Peace Institute
Panel/Lecture Session Time: 07/21, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Understand the importance of community-led approaches to school safety
  • Explore innovative, nontraditional methods for improving school safety
Root Causes of Violence
MaryAnn Alvarado
Violence Prevention Program Manager, Youth ALIVE!
Jaymes Fitzpatrick
Violence Prevention Educator, Youth ALIVE!
Interactive Workshop Session Time: 07/22, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Explain how poverty, media, and access to guns, drugs, and alcohol contribute to violence
La Seguridad de Nuestras Familias Importa en el Sur de Los Ángeles
Jorge Gonzalez
Founder, 5LA Nuevo Comienzo
Araceli Herrera Gonzalez
Program Coordinator, 5LA Nuevo Comienzo
Maria Vellez
Program Coach, 5LA Nuevo Comienzo
Interactive Workshop Session Time: TBA
Key Objectives ▼
  • Reconocer el impacto de la actividad física y el contacto con la naturaleza en la salud mental y física de los miembros de la comunidad.
  • Comprender la importancia de fortalecer las relaciones familiares como base para el desarrollo positivo de la niñez y la adolescencia.
  • Identificar estrategias efectivas para la prevención de conductas de riesgo en jóvenes a través del deporte, la recreación y programas comunitarios
Procurement of Firearms in CA
Greg Fidell
CA Senior Manager, Brady United Against Gun Violence
Panel/Lecture Session Time: 07/21, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Understand how firearms enter communities and the systemic failures in regulation
  • Examine how public safety is compromised by poor vetting of vendors
  • Highlight racial justice impacts linked to these failures
Transgender Empathy Training
Mallery Jenna Robinson
Transgender and HIV Healthcare Advocate, Transgender Excellence Academy
Panel/Lecture Session Time: 07/22, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Provide empathy-based, trauma-informed training on gender identity, anti-trans violence, and HIV
  • Strengthen trans-led peer educator programs through outreach and harm reduction strategies
  • Use storytelling and media to uplift victims and raise public awareness
Cycle of Change: Building Period-Positive School Communities
Maria Vargas
Facilitator and Presentation Lead, About My Period
Amanda Huelguera
Presenter/Group Facilitator, About My Period
Interactive Workshop Session Time: 07/22, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Identify impacts of menstrual stigma and period poverty on student safety and well-being
  • Examine how lack of menstrual access disproportionately affects marginalized youth
  • Develop period-positive initiatives such as pad pantries and youth-led education
Beyond Cheating? Rethinking the Learning Experience in the Age of AI
Tatheer Adnan
Executive Director, Incode Impact
Interactive Workshop Session Time: 07/22, 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Evaluate student use of AI and the limitations of punitive responses
  • Redesign instruction to integrate AI ethically and critically
  • Promote transparent and equitable classroom AI practices aligned with institutional goals
School Safe Passages
Donny Gomez
Assistant Director, Volunteers of America Los Angeles
Reinaldo Resendez
Community Intervention Worker, Volunteers of America Los Angeles
Linda Arellano
Case Manager, Volunteers of America Los Angeles
Panel/Lecture Session Time: 07/22, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Explore professional, volunteer, and collaborative safe passage models
  • Learn how to implement these strategies in schools and surrounding communities
Utilizing Focus Groups to Inform Student Safety Decisions
Natalie Agoos
Systems Transformation Specialist, Centinela Youth Services, Inc.
Christina Castro
Community Transformation Coordinator, Centinela Youth Services, Inc.
Interactive Workshop Session Time: 07/21, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Use focus groups to assess needs and elevate voices most impacted by school safety issues
  • Learn best practices for facilitating and analyzing focus groups
  • Participate in a live simulation to understand the experience from the participant’s perspective
Bullying in Progress: What Do We Do?
Darrick Smith
Associate Professor, University of San Francisco
Lecture/Panel Discussion Session Time: 07/21, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Understand the discourse of best practices regarding bullying prevention and incident resolution.
  • Highlight major gaps in the domestic and international discourse on bullying.
  • Understand critical elements to bullying intervention and communal conflict management for adolescents.
Growing Together: Expanding Service Reach Through Community Partnerships with Government and Local Nonprofits
Marlene Yang
Regional Park Superintendent I, Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation
Miriam Sayes
Environmental Resource Specialist, Southern California Crossroads
Interactive Workshop Session Time: 07/21, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Design equitable partnership frameworks that center community needs and sustainability
  • Build trust with institutional partners while preserving cultural and community integrity
  • Leverage nature-based programs to promote engagement, healing, and empowerment for youth and families
Stop the Bleed
Dr. Vincent Chong, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine
Hands-On Training Session Time: 07/21, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Key Objectives ▼
  • Learn to identify life-threatening bleeding and apply immediate response steps
  • Practice bleeding control techniques, including tourniquet application and wound packing
  • Gain confidence to act in emergencies before professional help arrives

Workshops and session times are updated regularly. Visit this page again for the most current schedule and new additions.

Schedule

Overview

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Welcome and Registration
Check in, grab a name badge, and enjoy light refreshments before the day begins.

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Hear from student leaders and special guests who will help set the tone for the day.

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Morning Breakout Sessions
Participate in workshops centered on student wellness, safety, and leadership.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Networking Lunch
Enjoy a free catered lunch and connect with peers, presenters, and community partners.

12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
A new round of sessions that build on the day’s themes with hands-on tools and strategies.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Inspiring closing messages and reflections on the day’s themes.

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Networking & Photos
Wrap up the day with time for pictures, informal networking, and goodbyes.