South Hadley's Youth Commission

The Mike Thornton Agency and I will co-produce The Capitol Steps again this fall in Western Massachusetts. Details are forthcoming.

This has given me the opportunity to work with some of the good people of South Hadley, Massachusetts,
who have put together a Youth Commission to help the young adults in a town that has seen the results of in-school bullying first-hand. We wish them well.

Here's information on their formation.

South Hadley Youth Commission
Town of South Hadley
116 Main Street
South Hadley, MA 01075

DATELINE: October 7, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS: Carol Constant. 413-222-1761

South Hadley Youth Commission Appointed

South Hadley, Massachusetts. On Tuesday, October 5, the South Hadley Selectboard voted to establish a youth commission with the mission empowering all youth to become change-makers in the community.

Appointed were adult members: Carol Constant, Carol Isackson, Tanya Kopec, David LaBrie and Christie Reardon. Ultimately it is planned that a total of fifteen young people between the ages of thirteen and twenty-one will serve on the Commission’s Youth Task Force along with seven adults on the Youth Commission. The goal is to include all youth regardless of ability, race, religion, national origin, socio-economic background, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Selectboard member Bruce MacCullagh said "We want our youth to be involved in the community and we want our community to provide programs and services for our youth. The input and participation of South Hadley youth on this commission will bring new ideas and programs to South Hadley."

Some ideas generated to-date include a Winter Carnival; a Mural Project; clean-up and repair of the Buttery Brook Skateboard Park; public service clean-up projects; teen nights, and group trips and activities.

Those interested in serving should contact, Carol Constant at 413-222-1761 or Commission Youth Task Force member Melanie Demakis at melxo47@aim.com.