Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing

I attended a meeting of the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance Executive Committee this morning. I have been a member of that committee for the past ten years or so. It is a group made up of mayors, public school administrators and teachers, parent and civic group representatives, as well as several clergy. The purpose of the organization is to increase the health of our communities with a focus on healthy youth. Our major concern is the decrease of substance abuse and increase the number and quality of the assets available to our young people.

This morning we heard from the Timberlane (Middle School) Peer Leaders. I was pleased to see Casey, one of our congregation’s youth, up in front presenting to us. This is a group of about twenty eighth-graders who meet once at week at 7:00am to focus on peer to peer leadership development. Their goal is to increase a positive attitude at their school, build their group as a team and to encourage all students to focus on their futures by reaching out to both the adults in the school as well as the younger students at their school. I am impressed not only with their dedication but also with their ability to present to the thirty-five of us adults gathered in front of them.

We also heard from a small group made up of high school students, teachers and parents who attended the 2008 Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Conference. I remember attending that conference in St. Paul MN with my daughter Charlotte about six years ago, and how much we gained from it. They told and showed us an interesting way they learned about how to empower youth through tel. a. Vision Video. This is a technical tool to help individuals focus in on their hopes, dreams and goals by making a video on line. To see what this is all about go to www.telavision.tv.

These young people learned that “Leadership is an action, not a position or a title.” (Jim Conway)

Several books were referred to us as wonderful sources of information and inspiration in raising and working with young people:

• Sparks, by Peter Benson
• Generation Text, by Dr. Michael Osit