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The counties of Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula are taking matters into their own hands to prepare a better future for their youth. As stated by its name Tri-County Promise To Youth's (TCPTY), the local initiative connected to the national effort, America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth, led by Retired General Colin Powell, is continuing its promise of a better future for our youth by working closely with young adults to identify and resolve issues youth face today.
Community leaders in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties will talk with and listen to our youth at "Youth Talks! A Community Listens To Its Youth", taking place on March 8, 9 and 10, 1999, respectively. These open forums provide our youth with the opportunity to dialog with community leaders on issues that directly affect youth in each of the three sister counties. It's a continuation of recognizing our young citizens as part of the solution, not the problem, to the critical issues facing today's youth, states Christina Goodman, project coordinator of Tri-County Promise To Youth.
The focus of the youth-driven meetings is to discuss the top three to five critical issues our youth perceive to have a direct impact on their future. Community leaders will be interacting with the youth to gather their input, focusing on their strengths rather than deficiencies, resulting in a commitment to work together to provide solutions for shaping healthy communities.
The three forums will take place as follows:
Lake County - Tuesday, March 9
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.mPainesville
First Church Congregational
22 Liberty Street
Geauga County - Wednesday, March 10
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Burton
Patterson Center
Claridon-Troy Road
Ashtabula County - Thursday, March 11
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.Conneaut
Human Resource Community Center
327 Mill StreetServing as a pilot program, these three counties will help to broaden the awareness of our youth's contribution to the foundation and leadership of a stronger community. The program's format will include an ice-breaker for the youth, a minimum of two opportunities for the youth to interact within breakout groups discussing different issues, with a recap of the meeting and commitment confirmations by the youth and community leaders.
Critical issues scheduled for discussion were identified through a survey distributed to local school systems and boys and girls organizations. Topics of substance abuse, race relations, teen pregnancy, lack of recreation and mistrust of people in authority prevail as the concerns youth believe are not being addressed in order for them to reach their full potential as adults. Community leaders have been carefully selected due to their profession and current community work dealing with these youth concerns.
Sponsored by TCPTY and Lake County Workforce Development Initiative, "Youth Talks! A Community Listens To Its Youth" will provide encouragement, create peer networks and leadership skills necessary for youth to make meaningful contributions to their communities and to begin a life-long journey of leadership and service. It is TCPTY's belief that this investment in the leadership of a diverse group of youth, partnering with community leaders will aid in the creation of stronger communities.
As the local extension of America's Promise, TCPTY commits to the set objectives of:
- Create an ongoing relationship with a caring adult, mentor, tutor or coach;
- Provide safe places and structured activities to learn and grow;
- Provide a healthy start and healthy future;
- Provide a marketable skill through effective education; and
- Provide an opportunity to give back to the community through community service.
Take action! Learn more about how you can help to provide an environment for our youth to reach their fullest potential. Call Christina Goodman at the Tri-County Promise To Youth office at 440-358-7040 and get involved.