Congresswoman Johnson Poses With  Participants During The Summit

Washington, DC- (Wednesday, August 8, 2012) — On Monday, August 6^th, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson held her daylong 6^th Annual Youth Summit & Diversity Dialogue at Southern Methodist University. The summit provided a forum for students to explore diversity and cultural awareness programs and to participate in interactive breakout sessions.  Students between the ages of 13-17 from the Dallas Fort-Worth area were selected to participate in the summit.

“This year’s theme is Putting Our Signature on the Future. This summit is designed to foster diversity and stimulate dialogue on issues that will affect you, your classmates, and your communities. Everyone here in this room today has the potential to make real and positive change in their communities,” said Congresswoman Johnson.“As you become young adults, we will look to you to provide leadership, and to find solutions to the growing problems facing our world today.”

The day began with an opening ceremony where students heard from Dr. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University; Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS; and Sarosha Hansraj, Founder of Children Care for Children; Bonnie King,Regional Environmental Education Coordinatorof Environmental Protection Agency,  in addition to remarks from Congresswoman Johnson.

Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS, INC., who was featured on the CBS TV Series Undercover Boss,  provided valuable professional leadership insights to include her very own “7 Steps to Success.”  At the conclusion of the summit, students incorporated Ms. Monson’s steps into the closing ceremony program.

Congresswoman Johnson and the panelists concluded the summit by encouraging the group to continue serving as young leaders in their communities and to engage in dialogue to foster an understanding of cultural differences on how best to promote a climate for social change. To culminate this experience, students from the summit will participate in a  service project at the Texas Discovery Gardens at the end of August.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek,Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla