Parenting teens today can be a joy at times, and very trying at others. At the extreme, teenagers can explode in fits of violent rage, that can lead to some very serious implications. Finding ways to communicate with today’s teens isn’t always easy, but there will be an opportunity forthcoming which may open the eyes of parents and provide some quality advice and maybe even some inspiration.

Author and teen violence expert Phil Chalmers will be speaking from 7-8 p.m. in the West Holmes Middle School auditorium, and will address many of the issues that accompany bullying in school. Chalmers will also talk about how students can maintain a better self-esteem. In addition to bullying, Chalmers will focus on providing ample information on today’s youth culture, and all of the aspects that youth consider important in their world today, from video games to social networking.

“I do some seminars where I focus on talking to teens, but this one is designed to connect with parents,” said Chalmers. “It’s about what teens want, and what they need. One of the things I really strive to do is stress the importance of a stable family life, where kids can feel safe and communicate with their parents. What we do has a real bearing on the lives of teens and their families, and we have seen a lot of lives changed for the better through what we present.”

A 25-year youth speaker, Chalmers, who moved from Cleveland to Holmes County last year, has two passions: The first is to speak to teens about destructive decisions, with the goal of helping them make more positive choices, and more importantly to proactively stop an act of teen violence. His second passion is to educate adults, law enforcement, court services, and school administrators as to why teens are committing violent acts, and how they can be stopped. Chalmers has offered his services to the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and the local school districts.

Chalmers said that one of the biggest obstacles he faces is the belief that teenage acts of violence can never happen in these quaint communities, which seem nearly idyllic.

In his travels, having spoken to hundreds of teen killers, serial killers and other teenagers who have gone on to commit heinous acts of violence, he has quickly realized that these acts can happen in any community, no matter how large or small.

“One of the most common comments I hear is people telling me that violent acts could never happen in their community,” said Chalmers. “I usually tell them the same thing: If it can happen in a small, one-room school house in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country, it can happen anywhere.”

Chalmers’ hope at all of his speaking engagements is that he will motivate teens to live healthier, smarter lives, and that he can provide tips and information to parents that will help them in their efforts to raise their teens.

He addresses destructive decisions, and his fast-paced and funny assemblies are designed to get students and parents thinking about the decisions they make, and the consequences which can follow. Topics covered are numerous, and include sexual abstinence, avoiding drug use, the dangers of drunk driving, the dangers of using tobacco, violence prevention, the dangers of bullying, teen suicide, violent entertainment, online dangers, crime prevention, and self-esteem.

Much of what he discusses will be preventative measures on these topics.

“Juvenile violence is preventable if we choose to be proactive,” said Chalmers.

In addition to his seminars, Chalmers has purchased an anonymous tip line to help divert teen violence issues, and has also gotten involved with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and school administrations in building relationships designed to help create a safer haven at school and in communities.

Chalmers’ extensive knowledge on teen violence began 25 years ago, when he began exploring the issues that were spurring teen violence. When the killing spree took place in Columbine, Colo., he knew he had to explore ways to get some of this vital knowledge out to the public, and he began writing his book, Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer. Chalmers began interviewing teenage killers and serial killers, and has since spoken to more than one million students nationwide about the state of the teenage world today.

“The content of what we explore is riveting,” said Chalmers. “Once I began exploring what made these teens that were committing these violent acts do what they did, I knew I had to find a way to share that information. These issues are vitally important in today’s world where teenagers are trying to find themselves and fit in, and we need to understand how we as adults can play a key role in helping them to make good decisions. Much of what I want to focus on here is prevention, some of the do’s and don’t’s of parenting and what kids need in today’s culture. There will be a lot of information in one hour.”

Later this summer, Chalmers will be speaking at the Berlin Grande Hotel. The May 23 and 24 event is sponsored by the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, and will also feature Col. Dave Grossman, the Pulitzer Prize nominated author of the book Killology Expert. Also appearing will be Sgt. A.J. DeAndrea, a SWAT member who was present at the Columbine school shooting, the YWAM Shooting, and the Platte Canyon Hostage School Shooting in Colorado, and Sgt. Toby Davis, the detective who worked the Carlie Brucia kidnapping in Sarasota, which was caught on car wash camera.

The Monday, April 18 event at West Holmes Middle School is designed for parents, and is free and open to the public.