Wednesday, March 10, 2010

SD Attorneys Bring Books, Read to Porter Students

Judge Papas reads to Porter students Retired U.S. District Court Judge Leo Papas recently spent a morning reading to students at Porter Elementary School as part of the San Diego County Bar Association's efforts to help the community. The association’s Children at Risk and Literacy programs, as well as the annual Children’s Book Drive, serve schools in San Diego’s neediest communities. As part of their community service, Bar members go the school to read with the children, not only helping them with their reading abilities, but serving as adult role models that reading is an important and valued skill. Judge Papas was one of the leaders at the Bar in starting this program.

Porter students also receive this same interactive role-modeling in their Conflict Resolution Skills Training, which includes Peer Mediators Training (teaching students to become peer counselors who will mediate disputes between other students) and Conflict Resolution Skills Training (introducing basic conflict resolution skills to the whole classroom). A lead trainer from the Bar’s Children at Risk Committee teaches core concepts to the students and leads class discussion. Attorney volunteers teach the skills directly to small groups of students. For more information, please contact Attorney Lori Mendez at lrmendezplc@sbcglobal.net .

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