Join us for the Berkshire County Youth Conference at Hancock Shaker Village on May 8th!
The Berkshire Youth Development Project (BYDP), a collaborative effort of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership, and the Railroad Street Youth Project/South Berkshire Youth Coalition, is hosting its 3rd annual 411 in the 413 Youth Conference on Friday, May 8th. While registration for the conference has closed, the public is invited to a concert later in the evening on that day that serves as the capstone event for the conference day.
The purpose of this conference, which is planned by a group of youth and adults from the partner organizations of the BYDP, is to bring young people together to explore, debate, and address topics of interest. The goals developed by the original planning committee and still used by planners are to foster relationships between youth, raise awareness around issues, present options for involvement, and provide information about current youth-related topics. All Berkshire County high schools were invited to send up to 10 students each to participate at no cost.
On the day of the conference, 100+ high school students from across Berkshire County will gather at Hancock Shaker Village from 10:30am until 10pm. They will experience a variety of dynamic keynote presentations from local youth and nationally-recognized speakers on youth empowerment. Three workshop sessions will follow featuring interactive experiences and information from local community organizations, schools, and college students. At 7:30pm, the event will open to the public as conference-attendees transition into a celebratory concert featuring youth talent from across Berkshire County. The concert, which costs $10 and is open to all ages, will be held at the HSV Round Barn. Proceeds from the concert will support next year’s youth conference.
This event is made possible by support from the Berkshire County Legislative Delegation, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Hancock Shaker Village. For more information about this event, please contact Kate Merrigan at 413-663-7588 or email hidden; JavaScript is required.
