On Monday May 18, PBS’s News Hour will be visiting Hartford Public High School.  They will arrive at 7:00am and are scheduled to interview superintendent Steven Adamoski.  And to make sure everything looks good on camera, they’re sequestering the trouble kids.  Read the full story

We interview Christine Rapillo of the CT Juvenile Justice Alliance, about the implementation of “raise the age” in the state and other issues concerning youthful offenders.

Click here to download the MP3

Tonight, I along with two other people who are involved in Food Not Bombs in Hartford, went to speak to some high school kids as part of Learning to Repair the World, a program sponsored by the Charter Oak Cultural Center and HartBeat Ensemble. The young people in the program have discussions with community members about social justice topics and then make a play about it. (The play will be performed on Thursday, April 23 – more details here.)

I was struck by these students as they took part in our discussion, which covered issues of poverty, homelessness, hunger, and the problems inherent in a capitalist society. I found that these students, who ranged in age from around 13 to 17, had a pretty sophisticated awareness of things. For example, the youngest of the group at one point made a concession to the media’s influence on her thinking and presented an even-headed reason as to why people get trapped in poverty.

I guess it was not so much the answers themselves, but also the open-minded and thoughtful way that they approached new ideas that impressed me. The questions they raised about decision-making in a way that does not promote majority rule, for instance, were really valid points; so were their questions about how representation in an anarchist system would be different than representation in the system we have now.

Anyway that is just my piece of commentary for today – I’m feeling optimistic about the possibilities of education. Having a small discussion like this was really cool. And I was wondering do you feel like kids these days have a more sophisticated understanding of things these days? I for one feel like these three kids knew a whole lot more than I did at that age.

This week, an interview with Marla Ludwig, founder of Bright Star Vision – a secular grassroots organization based in West Hartford.  BSV is currently building a school in Dalive, Ghana.  Be sure to attend the fundraiser on February 7, 6-10pm at Artspace in Hartford.

Click here to download the MP3

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Refreshments at 3 pm Program from 3:30-5 pm

The X Room Hartford Public Library
500 Main St. Hartford, CT

Come to a unique event to find out what other teens in Hartford are doing to make an impact and find out how you can get involved.

If you would like to showcase your program at this event, call Chiedza Rodriguez at 860-985-0154.

Center for Children’s Advocacy
University of Connecticut School of Law, 65 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105
Phone: 860-570-5327 Fax: 860-570-5256 www.kidscounsel.org

KidsCounsel Training Seminar
Thursday, December 4, 2008, 8:30 am – 10:15 am
University of Connecticut School of Law
Janet M. Blumberg Hall, Hosmer Hall Building
Introductions: Stacey Violante Cote, Center for Children’s Advocacy

OUR INVISIBLE POPULATION-ADVOCACY NEEDED FOR YOUTH OUTSIDE THE FWSN SYSTEM
A Panel Presentation: Stacey Violante Cote, Esq, MSW; Director, Teen Legal Advocacy Clinic, CCA;Jeffrey Fetzko, ACSW, LSW, CFRE Executive Director, Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children, New Jersey; Fernando Muniz Planning, Policy & Program Development, Department of Children and Families; Shari Shapiro Executive Director, Kids In Crisis
FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER MODEL FOR FWSN YOUTH
Update by the Director (TBD) of one of Connecticut’s Family Support Centers RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHILD LAW; Art Webster, Esq, Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Session
Please Respond by November 25, 2008 e-mail atremont@kidscounsel.org