Events planned in April by the Exchange Club of Vicksburg Child and Parent Center Inc. to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month starts Tuesday at Vicksburg Convention Center.
The shindig, dubbed Parenthood Rocks!, is from 5 to 8 p.m. and includes seminars, giveaways, door prizes, a raffle for a TV, appetizers and entertainment by the Debra Franco School of Dance.
“This will be an evening that will bring parents together for an evening of food, fellowship and fun,” said Erma Driver, the executive director of the center.
Childcare will be offered for ages 4 to 12 years old.
Driver said, the interactive seminars will include speakers from local organizations including the Center for Pregnancy Choices, Grace Christian Counseling Center, the Vicksburg Family Development Service, the CAP Center, the City of Vicksburg and the Vicksburg Warren School District.
Month-long awareness events will also include:
• A city wide Blue Ribbon Campaign encouraging everyone to wear blue each Monday
• City Hall will offer a commemorative flag display
• Blue Jean/Blue Ribbon Day will be observed at all schools and businesses on Fridays
• April 8-10 — Telling the Story – “Story Time” will be held at the Warren County Library
• April 12 — Party in the Park Carnival at Catfish Row National Exchange Club
• April 26 — Dance Cabaret, a National Exchange Club Foundation Fundraiser, Brandon
For more information, call 601-634-0557 or visit www.capcenter.net
The Exchange Club of Vicksburg Child and Parent Center, Inc. is also welcoming three new board members to the organization.

Melanie Sanders, a former Miss Atlanta and a three-time Miss, joins the board this month. The administrator for Circuit Court Judge Isadore Patrick, Sanders also sits on the boards of several community, festival and social event groups in Mississippi and Georgia and founder of LuxeLife, a public relations and management firm specializing in publicity, image consulting, media and pageant coaching, and brand marketing and retention.

Deowarski McDonald, principal of Vicksburg High School, also joins. McDonald is a graduate of Alcorn State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in secondary education. He received his administrative certification from the Mississippi State Department of Education and Hinds Community College and he holds a specialist degree in educational leadership from Mississippi College. McDonald has worked in the Vicksburg Warren School District for 13 years.

Also joining is Stephanie B. Stirgus, accounting manager at Ameristar Casino. Stirgis serves on the United Way Allocations Committee and the Vicksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is an active member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and is married to VWSD trustee Jim Sturgis Jr. They have two daughters, Alexus and Erin, and a son, Jay.