The Mandell JCC presents Real Life 101 – Life After High School, an informative and fun afternoon for local area high school juniors, seniors and their parents on Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. CT. The program will feature a panel of professionals providing advice in areas of social networking, financial literacy, physical health and emotional well-being, living arrangements, and more. Teens attending will break out in sessions with college students and recent college graduates for further discussion.

Real Life 101 – Life After High School provides high school students with skills needed to navigate adulthood independently. A discussion on post high school experiences will be led by event moderator and West Hartford Deputy Mayor, Shari Cantor, and consists of panelists Geoff Genser, LCSW; Andrea Gerich-Miller; Mitchell D. Weiss and Jason B. Powell, Cheif of Police at the Central Connecticut State University Police Department, with expertise in issues concerning social media, social networking and cyber crimes. 

Shari Cantor is the Deputy Mayor of West Hartford, and has served on the West Hartford Town Council since 2004. She currently chairs the Finance and Budget Committee. She is a liaison to the West Hartford Board of Education, and the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools.

Geoff Genser, LCSW, is a clinical social work therapist with 16 years of adolescent and young adult counseling experience. He specializes in helping teens and their families steer through emotional, academic and social stressors. Currently, he has a private practice in West Hartford, and is co-owner of the Family Resource & Development Center, LLC.

Andrea Gerich-Miller is the Associate Director of the Student Success Center at the University of Hartford. Prior, she served as the University’s Assistant Athletics Director for 16 years, and has experience advising and counseling college students, with an emphasis on working with college freshmen.

Mitchell D. Weiss is an adjunct professor of finance at the University of Hartford, and author of Life Happens – A Practical Guide to Personal Finance from College to Career, which was designated at the official textbook for his course. He is also a board member of the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business and co-founder of its Center for Personal Financial Responsibility. He has many years experience as an executive in the financial services industry.

Jason B. Powell has been the Chief of Police at the Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) Police Department since 1991. Prior, he served in the Hartford Connecticut Police Department for 23 as an Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain, including experience in patrol and SWAT teams.

The Real Life 101 – Life After High School program is free and open to all high school juniors and seniors; parents may accompany students. Refreshments will be served. To register, contact the Member Services Center at the Mandell JCC, 860-236-4571. Advanced registration for the program is encouraged; space is limited. For updates and more information, visit www.mandelljcc.org, or follow the Mandell JCC on Facebook and Twitter.