Annual Conference
Through our annual conference, you can gain access to timely, essential information on bullying, victimization and related issues that can be utilized in school and community settings.
Shared Voices: Youth and Community Participatory Approaches to Preventing Violence and Promoting Wellness
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Doors open at 8)
Classics V Banquet Center
2425 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, NY
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Morning Keynote Presentation (1.5 CE contact hours available)
Stephen S. Leff, PhD
William H. Bennett Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Co-Director of Center for Violence Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Dr. Stephen Leff will present on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), a collaborative research approach that equitably involves community members, researchers, and organizational representatives in every phase of the research process. He will discuss how his team used CBPR to develop their "Friend to Friend" relational aggression prevention and related programs, and core take-away practice strategies for supporting youth who are aggressive. Finally, Dr. Leff will share his top ten list of lessons learned for working in partnership with the community.
- Increase their knowledge of community-based participatory approaches to ensure that programming is both evidence-based and responsive to the targeted community.
- Better understand how relational aggression impacts youth’s social and emotional development.
- Learn specific strategies based upon the best practice research that they can use to work more successfully with aggressive youth.
- Be able to discuss common challenges and steps for overcoming these issues when using community-based approaches to ensure that the voices of youth, families, and schools are being integrated and respected into programming.
Morning Student Panel — BAND Against Bullying
A panel of students from Amherst Central High School's Sweet Sixteen and Varsity Singers, joined by Director of Choral Activities, Justin Pomietlarz, will share their experiences participating in the annual BAND Against Bullying program over their high school career.
Afternoon Keynote Presentation (1.5 CE contact hours available)
Katheryne T. Leigh-Osroosh, PhD, NCC
Assistant Professor, Counseling, School and Educational Psychology
University at Buffalo
Community-Based Participatory and Youth Participatory research approaches center community expertise while fostering mutually beneficial partnerships aimed at addressing systemic barriers to student well-being and success. These approaches also provide opportunities for school administrators, educators, and student support staff to strengthen their professional knowledge, skills, and practices. This interactive session will equip participants with practical strategies for integrating participatory approaches into the development of sustainable, culturally relevant, and holistic student supports. Ultimately, the goal is to create data-driven interventions that align with the needs, values, and capacities of the school community.
- Explain how community and youth participatory research approaches can be used to address achievement and wellness gaps.
- Practice activities to include students and community stakeholders in creating sustainable culturally-relevant change.
- Describe how they will incorporate participatory practices within their schools to foster safer and more inclusive environments.
Breakout Session One (1:00 to 1:45 p.m.) — Select One
Asking for a Friend Leadership Program — Do You See What I See?
Vanita L. Jamison
Director, Community Based Programs, The Prevention Council of Erie County
Eddie Payne
Community Coordinator, Erie County Police Services
SMART (Supporting Mental Health and Resources Together) Collaboration
Kailin Kucewicz, LMSW
Manager, Community Schools and Partnerships, Erie 1 BOCES
Breakout Session Two (2:00 to 2:45 p.m.) — Select One
Leveraging School Data to Support Youth Mental Health and Wellness
Dr. Mai Nguyen
Director, Dept. of Social, Emotional and Wellness Supports
Buffalo Public Schools
Natasha Mehta
Supervisor, Dept. of Social, Emotional and Wellness Supports
Buffalo Public Schools
Matthew Pegg
Supervisor, Dept. of Social, Emotional and Wellness Supports
Buffalo Public Schools
Beyond “Be Kind” — NFJC’s Youth Programming and Community Work
Rene Petties-Jones
President & CEO
The National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York
Lyndsay Christia
Higher Education Professional and Doctoral Candidate
The National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York