Hundreds attend Youth Summit

The messages were clear at the Goin' Smart Youth Summit in East Palo Alto on Saturday: Stay away from violence, keep on a track to college and care about yourself so you can make a difference in your community.

[Arch Chaney]

I am so thankful for the attempted peaceful resolutions for East Palo Alto. I grew up there in the 1950's, a much different environment at that time. I am thankful for this attempt. With prayer and peaceful interaction, the youth of this community will greatly benefit.
When I was living in East Palo Alto there was no high school. I was bused to Menlo-Atherton.
I am living in Colorado at present.

[Time for Some Action]

What now? Results please!!!

[4 Faye McKnox]

Improve the community, good luck. Some say that the best way to be a leader is to just lead by example. This community however believes that it is up to the youth to make the difference because most of the city's plaging issues are from the youth. Where is the leadership from adults. You need empowered youth with the support of adults in a paradigm built for sucess however EPA doesn't provide that outlet. They constantly get money provided to run short term projects attacking small pieces of the issue. Just going to college isn't enough. Pro stars get "college eds" and then go act a fool. These youth need opportunites provided to them so that their visions of life are expanded. They need to be able to have outlets. They need more to do in their city as well as the surrounding cities. They should feel that they can walk up University Ave and not get harrased for looking supspicious because they don't look like they fit in. Why is can't you walk over Embarcadero without breaking the law? Why can't have youth events targeted at bring together different youth from PA & EPA . Diversity is needed in both of these communities. We need to be able to mesh these two places together or the overwhelming helplessness will only grow. We need co city events that don't make people feel they left their comfort zone. If not then it will be us vs them. That narrowminded influence can continue to filter around and around and then well you already see what that leads to.

[Nicole]

4 Faye McKnox wrote:

Improve the community, good luck. Some say that the best way to be a leader is to just lead by example. This community however believes that it is up to the youth to make the difference because most of the city's plaging issues are from the youth. Where is the leadership from adults. You need empowered youth with the support of adults in a paradigm built for sucess however EPA doesn't provide that outlet. They constantly get money provided to run short term projects attacking small pieces of the issue. Just going to college isn't enough. Pro stars get "college eds" and then go act a fool. These youth need opportunites provided to them so that their visions of life are expanded. They need to be able to have outlets. They need more to do in their city as well as the surrounding cities. They should feel that they can walk up University Ave and not get harrased for looking supspicious because they don't look like they fit in. Why is can't you walk over Embarcadero without breaking the law? Why can't have youth events targeted at bring together different youth from PA & EPA . Diversity is needed in both of these communities. We need to be able to mesh these two places together or the overwhelming helplessness will only grow. We need co city events that don't make people feel they left their comfort zone. If not then it will be us vs them. That narrowminded influence can continue to filter around and around and then well you already see what that leads to.

about bringing the PA and EPA youth together, there is currently a colaboration between the Ravenswood School District, Youth Community Services, Menlo Park Church and Public Allies that is working on an event on national youth service day (April 21) that will bring together youth and families from EPA, PA and MP.
I do agree that bringing these communities together would be beneficial to all, but that is not to take away from how powerful it was on Saturday to see youth stand up for themselves.

[Margaret Jackson-Gray]

I think this is a wonderful idea. We would like to do something in Stockton, CA like this event. I work at a low-income apartment complex as a manager. This is a positive event with information that would greatly benefit those that would attend. Anyone out there that can give me information on how we can host one of these events? Please email me at [e-mail] Thank you.

[laura elizabeth]

costano ROCKS

[LAURA ELIZABETH]

COSTANO ROCKS