On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 24, a tragedy took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. 21 victims lost their lives during a tragic school shooting. With this crisis occurring during our 39th Annual Conference, our Chief Executive Officer, Fedora Galasso, led a moment of silence to open Day #2 to honor their lives. Read below her remarks in full:
We wanted to take some time to acknowledge and honor the lives that were lost in yesterday’s school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. It is a tragedy that this crisis occurred, not only for the 19 victims, but also their classmates, families, coworkers, and communities. This loss resonates with many on our team and we can imagine this affects many of you all, especially those who work with students at all levels and those working in and around Uvalde.
So, let’s all have a moment of silence.
If you are a young person in this room or know of an attendee who needs support in processing this news, members of our partnerships team are ready to provide support and time with those in need.
We know the enormous impact of tragic events like this one, both for youth and providers in South Texas and communities across the state. We encourage folks to take time to process throughout the day as they need it. This tragic event highlights the ongoing importance of this incredible community of providers that works every day to support young peoples’ mental health, provide prevention services, and be a critical support system for youth and young adults.
If you have additional needs that have not been listed, please stop by the registration table where TNOYS staff can help the best they can.