The keynote speaker will be Daniel Hernandez, the University of Arizona student who was an intern in U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ Tucson office and is credited with helping to save the congresswoman’s life when she was shot Jan. 8.  Ramón Valadez, District 2 supervisor and chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, will give closing remarks.

The young people attending the “Presenting Dreams” event, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the school at 400 N. Second Ave., are among those participating in the Pima County One Stop Career Center’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

They will hear presentations, watch demonstrations and be able to talk with representatives of the American Red Cross; the Pima County and Tohono O’odham Nation offices of Emergency Management; the U.S. Border Patrol; the Pima County Health Department; the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy; and other public safety and emergency agencies.  A helicopter, a Hummer and other specially equipped vehicles will be on display.

The event is not a job fair but rather an opportunity for young people to get firsthand information about important careers as first responders.

“This is a great opportunity to expose students to service careers, especially those students wanting to gain skills and experience necessary to help people in times of emergencies,” said Maiola Coleman, one of the organizers of the event and winner of the 2007 Arizona Community Leadership Award.

Sponsors of the event include the Community Alliance Addressing Disparities, Grace Temple Missionary Baptist Church, Pima County Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Pima County One Stop Career Center Summer Youth Programs, Pima County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Tucson Unified School District Multicultural Student Services, and the Tucson Urban League.