Representatives of Youth Voice, a collaboration of several youth leadership groups of Fall River youth groups met at Government Center on May 26, 2009 with representatives of the Fall River City Council and the School Committee to discuss some of the provisions in the Youth Bill of Rights for the City of Fall River. The Bill, modeled on a similar document from Portland, OR, will be presented to the Fall River City Council and the School Committee for endorsement in June. Once approved, a special ceremony to sign the document will take place on the USS Massachusetts on July 3, 2009. Participants in the process meeting have included members the Peaceful Coalition, Team FRESH, PLOT, Teens Against Drugs and Alcohol, Making Proud Choices and YouthBuild. Youth Services Director Christian McCloskey, CD-REC Program Director Jamison Souza, Massachusetts Promise Fellow Brendan Sullivan and Peaceful Coalition staffer Ine Ogagan have worked with the group develop their ideas. Click here for photos of the original Summit that kicked off the project. For more information about the project contact Healthy Youth Task Force co-chairs  Christian McCloskey at 508-324-2419, or Jamison Souza at 508-679-0922. (Photos by Jamison Souza and Dave Weed)
 

(Top row) Fall River City Councilor Linda M. Pereira and School Committee Member Joseph Costa listen to the initial presentation by Team FRESH members Jessica Wong and Jasiel Correia II as Zachariah Sonallah listens. (Middle row, left and right) Ms. Pereira makes a point as Mr. Costa, Healthy Youth Task Force co-chair Christian McCloskey, and Mayor Robert Correia listen. (Middle row, center) Glenda Ortiz, Jennifer Benjamin, Linda Rim, Jessica Wong, Jasiel Correia II, Christian McCloskey and Jillian Mello listen as Nicholas Farias makes a recommendation. (Bottom row) Nicholas Farias, Stephanie Hou, Belinda Teixeira, Massachusetts Promise Fellow Brendan Sullivan, and Councilor Pereira prepare to vote as Jasiel Correia II concludes the meeting.