Franken/Coulter Student Press Conference
Panelist Al Franken, with YOUTH Forum members, Jonathan Palmer, Granby HS; and Ryan Foreman, Bolton HS; at the pre-Forum press conference. Panelist Ann Coulter with YOUTH Forum members, Steve Fiano, Bolton HS; and Mashario Brown, AI Prince Tech; at the pre-Forum press conference.



YOUTH Forum on CPTV!
YOUTH Forum members participated in "Teens Speak Out," a new show broadcast live on CPTV this spring. 25 YOUTH Forum members discussed Stereotypes on April 29 and School Life on May 5. Viewers e-mailed and called in from around the State to contribute to the discussion. CPTV reported that The Forum had the highest number of call-ins ever experienced at the station! A new "Teens Speak Out" will air in the fall, so stay tuned!

   



Leadership Retreat
Over Memorial Day weekend, 32 high school students participated in a CT YOUTH Forum Leadership Retreat in Torrington, CT at The Girl Scouts' Camp, Maria Platt. The overnight retreat included leadership building activities, swimming (yes, some people actually went swimming), boating, a fire with s'mores, cooking meals and lots of hanging out. We ended the retreat with an Appreciation Circle and a Spider Web activity, where participants validated one another's leadership abilities. It was a great weekend of connection and we look forward to this group being the decision-makers for much of the YOUTH Forum Program in this coming year.



Farewell To Seniors
"Hopes & Dreams" was the topic for the last YOUTH Forum meeting of the year on May 11 at Kingswood Oxford School. Seniors got center stage to share stories about when they were younger, words of wisdom and their plans for the future. Many underclassmen gave Seniors "props" for the friendship, support and the leadership they have shown. Seniors shared that the YOUTH Forum has had a significant impact on them, helping them to grow and feel more ready for the big world that's out there. YOUTH Forum members were also saying good-bye to Jen Jondreau, YOUTH Forum Program Manager. Jen is leaving The Forum to run her family's sign language interpretation business and to finish her PhD in psychology. Jen has made great contributions to the YOUTH Forum; we wish her good luck and much success.

   



Thank You for Your Support of The Connecticut YOUTH Forum! You helped make this fabulous year possible!

State of Connecticut, Department of Education
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Lincoln Financial Group
Aetna and The Aetna Foundation
The Ensworth Charitable Foundation
Target Stores
United Way
J. Walton Bissell Foundation
Charles Nelson Robinson Foundation
George & Grace Long Foundation

Some of the many things the YOUTH Forum did this year:
  • Monthly meetings at 8 different high schools, an average of 160 teenagers attended each meeting, 520 different students attended throughout the year
  • Leadership Network meetings throughout the year
  • Day long, overnight and week long diversity trainings
  • Sign language classes taught by YOUTH Forum members of the American School for the Deaf and a 3 day camp focusing on communication between deaf and hearing youth
  • 283 teenagers attended the all day Student Exchange Event
  • 165 different students attended Forums at the Bushnell
  • Leadership Network members represented youth opinion and experience on panels
  • 25 youth participated in 2 live shows, Teens Speak Out on CPTV
  • 25 students attended all day college visits, shadowing a college student for the day
  • 47 volunteers chaperoned 250 elementary school children at The Forum's annual Holiday Party
  • Volunteers tutored children at Betances School as part of the Community Service Network
  • A YOUTH Forum intern maintained the YOUTH Forum website
  • YOUTH Forum members served on Task Groups, the Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of The Connecticut Forum

YOUTH Forum members were bold, met their peers across the divides in our community, shared, learned from each other, broke down barriers and stereotypes and had fun!