Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11/16/05

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DISTRICT ATTORNEY PARTICIPATES IN YOUTH RITES OF PASSAGE PROGRAM

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua participated in the Youth Rites of Passage Program sponsored by Community Baptist Church in Santa Rosa this past Saturday. This program was founded by Reverend James E. Coffee and Shirley Gordon, Vice President of State Farm Insurance.

The Rites of Passage is a program designed to provide life enrichment skills for youth and to instill a sense of pride in who they are. The monthly workshops are led by members of the community who volunteer their time. The topics of the workshops include team building, careers, self-esteem, time management, etiquette, financial awareness, wellness and nutrition, and public speaking. Sixteen teenagers, ages 14-18, from various high schools in Sonoma County are participating in this annual six month program which ends with a celebration in April.

"The rites of passage is about building a fence at the top of the cliff instead of a hospital at the foot of the mountain; we are jump starting our youth with team building," said Reverend James Coffee. Shirley Gordon, the co-founder of Rites of Passage, stated that "this program provides a safe and nurturing environment for learning and self discovery."

This past Saturday, the workshop focused on careers. District Attorney Passalacqua discussed the mission of the Office of the District Attorney in protecting our community, the educational requirements to become a prosecutor, and told the youth that "getting an education will provide the opportunities to follow their passion and their dreams."

Present at the career forum were the following: Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua; Superior Court Judge Elliot Daum; Santa Rosa Mayor Jane Bender; Santa Rosa Councilman Lee Pierce; Bill Clark, educational consultant; Cook Middle School Principal Harriet Gray; Businessman Paul Paulson; Deputy District Attorney Sharmalee Rajakumaran; R.N. Mika Muasya; Empire Law School Dean Patrick Broderick; Matt Mixon, KFTY 50 Salesman; Anthony Wheeldin, attorney; and Mary Featherstone, business owner.

To learn more about this program, please contact Community Baptist Church at 546-0744.