Cincinnati USA will play host to everyday heroes from July 16-18 as the D.A.R.E. program, dedicated to improving the lives of youth, reducing drug abuse and violence around the world, brings police officers in from around the world for its 26th Annual International Training Conference.
Training and certification sessions will be held in the Duke Energy Convention Center with many of its attendees traveling in from outside the United States including Bahrain, Brazil and Mexico. New sessions are also being offered on insights and response to school shootings in light of the recent events in Newtown, Conn., and Chardon, Ohio. Other programming includes a community service visit to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, an Auto Show featuring specially-decorated D.A.R.E. police vehicles and BB Riverboats Cruise.
“We are honored to welcome the D.A.R.E. International police officers to Cincinnati this week,” said Dan Lincoln, president and CEO, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau. “These officers are heroes in their local communities and have an incredibly positive impact on the lives of young people across the world. Their efforts parallel the positive momentum that Cincinnati USA is experiencing, and I’m looking forward to watching our community embrace this event and the officers visiting Cincinnati.”
A special candle lighting ceremony and commemoration for fallen officers and the children of the Sandy Hook shooting will be held during the Opening Ceremony. Attending officers are expected to arrive in the traditional uniform of their country of origin, and D.A.R.E. students from neighboring Cincinnati USA communities will also participate in the programming.
“Each year, this international training conference provides a stage to celebrate the D.A.R.E. program, now in its 30th year,” said Frank Pegueros, president and CEO, D.A.R.E. International. “There is no question in my mind that D.A.R.E. is even more innovative and relevant in 2013 than it was in 1983. We are happy to be back in Cincinnati for this year’s conference, and look forward to giving back to the region during our visit.”
Host hotels include the Millenium Cincinnati and the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati.
Cincinnati USA will welcome 15 groups, representing 16,000 attendees and 28,000 total room nights. Together, these groups represent an estimated $8.5 million in economic impact to the region.
