The Ban the N-Word Youth Forum drew over 250 youth and close to 70 adults on Wednesday, August 6, 2008. The event was coordinated by the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau and co-sponsored by the Mount Vernon Department of Recreation, the Mount Vernon Public Library and the Westchester Library System. This magnanimous event allowed the city"s youth, key officials, parents, and residents to share their ideas and beliefs regarding historical and present use of the N-Word and other demeaning and despairing words. The youth discussed terms such as the B-word, hoe, spic, kite, and many others that have left an indelible scar on generations of diverse people. The forum also allowed the community to discuss how disrespectful labels within the media and music impact the way youth envision themselves and hoe members of the adult community envision the younger generations. Please contact DaMia Harris, Deputy Director of the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau at (914)-665-2344 for more information on organizing an event such as this.