History
The Connecticut YOUTH Forum, founded in 1992, meets at different
schools every month to discuss issues of importance to young people.
At each meeting, an average of 125 students have the opportunity to
meet new people from over 40 different schools, and 28 different towns
in the Greater Hartford area. These students discuss controversial
and interesting issues in order to break down barriers formed by race,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, geographic isolation, and economic
status.
A STUDENTS PERSPECTIVE......
The Connecticut Forum is difficult to describe, it's much easier to
attend a meeting and build an understanding of what it is rather than
receive an explanation, but I'll try to explain it. Each month
the people who run the forum will pick a topic, something like spirituality
and religion or racism. Students from all different back grounds and
different races will meet at a school and discuss the topic, each
one stating their own opinion, or questioning others. There are mediators
for each conversation, so it doesn't get too heated. This broadens
your perspective on a topic, and makes you think about your life in
relation to so many different ones. Often the bus rides, or limo rides
beck to the school end up becoming a mini forum (yes when there is
a limo outside the school it's for the forum). Regular meetings are
monthly and generally occur on Tuesdays, from 3:30 until 5:30. This
may seem like a long time, but the discussions never seem to be long
enough. There is an all day trip for the forum in February, this year
the topic is on America, but it isn't just about the country, it is
about self, and what how the self is related to this country and its
ideals. This
February program is from 8 AM to 8 PM and it is amazing experience.
One who attends will go to a room full of strangers and by the end
of the day will end up knowing them all, often better than their friends
from home. The day is truly a great learning experience; sharing points
of view and different perspectives helps improve you as a person.
There are also forum events at
The Bushnell in Hartford. They is an
audience watching a mediated conversation between people who are the
most famous or prestigious in their field. Our school last attended
the forum event entitled 'The Anatomy of Power' in which Erin Brockovich
(not Julia Roberts) spoke, as well as several others.
The Forum is a truly liberating experience. It is a great way to open
up your mind to understanding others as well as yourself.
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