News Release:
January 21, 2004
            
Contact:
Mike Andrei
Director-College Relations
(716) 839-8472
Jolene Baller
West Side Coordinator
Daemen College Center for Sustainability & Civic Engagement
881-4281, 884-2799
            
            


Daemen College Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement to Host Youth Congress for Teens
In February of 2004, Daemen College will facilitate a Youth Congress for teenagers in Buffalo's West Side Community. The structure of the Conference has been shaped by Jolene Baller, on-site coordinator for Daemen's partnership with the West Side, who has been overseeing this series of events. The first Youth Congress will be held 6-9 p.m., February 4th at The Saint Mary Center, 241 Lafayette Avenue.

In this forum, two teens from each agency, including West Side Community Services; Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo; The Massachusetts Avenue Project; Western New York United/SICA Coalition; West Side Neighborhood Housing Services; American Red Cross of Greater Buffalo; the Weed & Seed Program; Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur/Arts Alive Program; and United Neighborhoods will come together beginning February 4th with a facilitator from the United Way to discuss the needs of teens on the West Side. It is anticipated that 20 young people will attend the first Conference.

I've been working with the best and the brightest from the West Side Collaborative Youth Programs, says Baller.

For many years these programs individually have worked hard to nurture the strengths of their young people and worked even harder to challenge their weaknesses. Most important to the West Side, these programs encourage youth to celebrate their diversity. What is very clear is that there is a definite willingness for all of the program directors to get together and share their ideas, resources and energies to assist all of our West Side young people.

With gentle guidance these youth will join together and share their ideas on:
  • What are the most important issues for young people in the community?
  • What are the best things for young people in the community?
  • What can be done to address the most important issues for young people in the community?
  • What can be done to improve the best things for young people in the community?
Subsequent Youth Congress meetings will be held at rotating programs within the Collaborative, providing each organization with an opportunity for first-hand involvement. The plan is to have six meetings in a 12 week period. The first couple of meetings will have the young people coming up with a plan to implement in the spring (again...with gentle guidance).

"We promise to do whatever we can to get the kids' ideas in front of elected officials, boards of directors, grant writers...anybody that can help them reach their vision," emphasizes Baller. "After all, they are the future."

Formally opened in June, 2003, the Daemen College West Side Partnership Office is located in a storefront at 372 Connecticut Street and is modeled after the Daemen College-Seneca Babcock Partnership. The site offers a space where Daemen students can provide services including tutoring, mentoring, and other services needed by the community. The Partnership Office and its programs are made possible through support from The John R. Oishei Foundation, KeyBank USA, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

For more information about the West Side Partnership, visit: http://www.daemen.edu/sites/CSCCE/westside.htm