Partners for a Healthier Community

PARTNERS | HEALTHY CITY | HOW HEALTHY | VISION | SUMMIT | PRIORITIES | FUNCTIONS | CITY OF FALL RIVER

Fall River youth had the opportunity to speak to the mayoral, City Council, and School Committee candidates running for office at a forum held at Kuss Middle School on October 20, 2015. Students Alexandra Codeno-Correa, Vanessa Smith, Kai Uehara, Cheyenne Forsee, Daishawn Barros, Sumaiyea Uddin, Brandon Pankowski and Ava Blewitt spoke powerfully about the issues that they and other youth confront every day both in school and in the community. Candidates were then given the opportunity to submit questions to the students. After listening to the students' responses, the candidates were given one minute each to pledge one thing that they would do to address the students' concerns. The event was planned and sponsored by the Fall River Youth Violence Prevention Task Force , the Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community School Community Partnership , Greater Fall River Re-Creation , and the Fall River Boys and Girls Club. United Neighbors of Fall River Executive Director Wendy Garf-Lipp and student Tyra Leite moderated the event. Click here for a one-hour-and-thirty-five-minute video of the presentation. Click here for the Herald News article. For more information about the event, contact Wendy Garf-Lipp or Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey at 508-982-4297.





(Top row, left) Jamie Da, Katrina Ferreira, Leah Grannum, and Samantha Benevides get ready to assist with the event. (Top row, center) City Council candidate Pam Laliberte-Lebeau, School Committee candidate Edward Costar, City Council Candidate Steven Long and School Committee Candidate Mark Costa wait for the event to get under way. (Top row, right) Brandon Pankowski and Amy Blewitt get ready for the event to begin. (Row two) Vanessa Smith and Kai Uehara get ready to begin as Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard gives some last-minute advice while moderators Wendy Garf-Lipp and Tyra Leite (Row three) The audience reacts to School Committee candidate Edward Costar and School Committee members Mark Costa and Robert Maynard share a light moment with City Councilor Linda Pereira. (Row four) Mayoral candidates Jasiel Correia II and Samuel Sutter address the panel after Councilor Pereira speaks. (Bottom row) SCI Americorps Jay Wong gives the closing remarks before all of the candidates give a standing ovation to the panel and then greet the panelists after the event.