STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Human rights specialist Sam Byrd will address the second annual Conferencia Educativa Para Padres/Education Conference for Parents on Saturday.

The free conference sponsored by Cox Communications will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Community Campus in Hailey.

Presentations will be in both English and Spanish. And free child care will be provided at the Blaine County Recreation District’s HUB.

Byrd will talk about how to access resources to support children. Byrd is a dynamic public speaker and an expert in diversity issues, having worked with the Task Force on Hispanic Education, the Idaho Committee on Indian Education, the Idaho Inclusiveness Coalition, the Idaho Human Rights Education Center and the Council on Hispanic Education.

He has been honored with several awards, including the Distinguished Leadership in Human Rights award from Hewlett-Packard, the national Howard Swearer Humanitarian Award by the Campus Compact, the Larry G. Selland Humanitarian Award by the Boise State University Women’s Center and the University of Idaho President’s Medallion.

His presentation will be augmented by breakout sessions focusing on “Skyward Basics,” “Building the Youth of the Future,”  “Middle School, High School, College, Career and Beyond” and “Fundamental Learning for Elementary Students.”

The first 50 people to enter will receive door prizes. And Cox Communications, the event sponsor, will hold a raffle for Bluetooth speakers and other items throughout the day.

Nosotros United and the Wood River High School Wrestling Club will provide food for sale to benefit their clubs. And The Hunger Coalition, Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Girls on the Run and the BCRD will promote their programs in English and Spanish.