Youth Development Conference

BERKSHIRE COUNTY'S ANNUAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

Berkshire County Youth Development Conference brings young people together to explore topics of interest and relevance to Berkshire County high school students in a format planned by and for local youth. 

The goals of the annual youth development conference are:

· to foster new relationships between Berkshire County youth

·raise awareness around issues pertinent to youth

·provide information about current youth-related topics

·present opportunities to share ideas and ways to be more engaged in society

 

 The Berkshire Youth Development Conference is coordinated by an all-youth planning committee, comprised of constituents from Railroad Street Youth Project, Pittsfield Youth Commission and UNITY of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. 

Every high school in Berkshire County is invited to participate by sending up to 10 students and two chaperones to the conference.  The 2008 conference was an overnight event at YMCA Camp Hi-Rock in Mt. Washington, MA held May 1-2.  The conference included youth keynote speakers, interactive workshops, live music, outdoor activities and all food and lodging at no cost to schools or its 90 youth participants. 

Past workshop topics have included:  Performance Poetry, Speak Up!, Storyoke, How to Make it as an Artist in the Real World, GLBTQ open discussion, Hip-Hop/Jazz Dance, Stress Reduction, Nutrition, 2008 Elections, Change the World, Forging Trust Between Parents and Children, Teen Sexuality, How to Travel for Cheap, Dance 4 Peace, Through the Wire:  Looking at Society through Media, Coming of Age in Today's World, Global Warming, and Maintaining Balance.

 

The youth conference is supported by the Berkshire Youth Development Project through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Youth Development and Teen Pregnancy Prevention programs and is administered by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.