Attention all Berkshire County friends, colleagues, community members and volunteers in the field of Youth Development:
The Berkshire Youth Development Project* cordially invites you to attend our one-of-a-kind, one-day Youth Worker Summit.
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 9am-2pm
Potential outcomes: Learn 2009 Berkshire County youth development statistics; Participate in discussions that you help facilitate; Network with other youth workers and agencies; Connect to your local substance abuse prevention coalition; Find out about groups that meet regularly in all parts of the county, and perhaps make a plan to join one
Who should attend: School faculty, non-profit youth workers, youth collaboratives, cultural and creative organizations with youth programs, town leaders, community volunteers, fun and innovative people
Cost: $10 per person (payable to Northern Berkshire Community Coalition), includes lunch (even for vegetarians)
Location: Camp Stevenson-Witawentin (click on hyperlink to find out how to get there)
How to register: Email Kate Merrigan, UNITY Program Coordinator at NBCC at email hidden; JavaScript is required or 413-663-7588
What to bring: your favorite co-workers and colleagues, an open mind, and the Prevention Needs Assessment Survey (see detailed itinerary below, your copy will be emailed to you upon registration)
What to expect:
9am Coffee, welcome and introductions of Berkshire Youth Development Project and Berkshire County’s substance abuse prevention coalitions:
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Pittsfield Prevention Partnership and South Berkshire Youth Coalition
10:00a Berkshire County Data: Results of the 2009 Prevention Needs Assessment Survey (administered in 8th, 10th and 12th grades across the county), presented by Lois Dannis, NBCC
11:15a Lunch: Catered by Corinne’s Brown Bag (yes, veggie options are available)
11:45a Using the Open Space Technology discussion approach, participants will self-organize small group conversations. Over the last 20+ years, opening space as an intentional leadership practice has created inspired organizations, where ordinary people work together to create extraordinary results
2pm Closing: We all go home (or back to work as it may be)
*The Berkshire Youth Development Project is a collaboration of the three regional substance abuse prevention coalitions: Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership, and the South Berkshire Youth Coalition and their direct service and supporting agencies: Railroad Street Youth Project, Berkshire United Way , Berkshire Health Systems and District Attorney David Capeless . BYDP was formed in 2006 and has since coordinated the biannual Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, the annual “411 in the 413 Youth Conference”, $1.626M in federal substance abuse prevention funding for Berkshire County, the Compassion Massachusetts capacity-building grant funding through UMASS Donahue Institute, a $75,000 grant through the Attorney General’s office, and other local projects. BYDP encourages you to join your local coalition and find out more about how your organization can benefit from these opportunities.
