Students attend leadership conference in Albany
by CHELSEA BATH Student Correspondent

Tyler Walters, a sophomore at Williamsville South High School, Katie Niblock, a freshman at Sweet Home High School, Jake Pandolfi, an eighth grader at Sweet Home Middle School, and Chelsea Bath, a sophomore at Williamsville South High School attended the Amherst Youth Consortium.

Each year, a state-wide youth leadership conference is held in Albany.

This year, four members of the Amherst Youth Consortium attended: Tyler Walters, a sophomore at Williamsville South High School, Katie Niblock, a freshman at Sweet Home High School, Jake Pandolfi, an eighth grader at Sweet Home Middle School, and Chelsea Bath, a sophomore at Williamsville South High School. Accompanying them on the trip was Mary-Diana Pouli and Kathy Mobarak-Miller of the Town of Amherst Youth Board.

The conference was an opportunity for students to meet other student leaders from their area and throughout the state, attend workshops and listen to keynote speakers.

This year, 17-year-old Jewel Cash of Boston, Mass., spoke to the students about the importance of involvement in the community. After the presentation, various workshops were provided by youth and adults. Workshop topics included: Debate Skills, Getting YES from Adults, Grant Writing 101 and Influencing Creatively.

When students were not in leadership training, they had the chance to relax and have fun with their peers. Activities such as open-microphone talent show, dance, movies and swimming in the hotel pool were provided.

The following day, the Amherst Youth Consortium members met Sen. Mary Lou Rath, R-Amherst, at a legislative breakfast, toured the Capitol Building and visited New York Assemblyman Jim Hayes' office.

A meeting with Rath in her office was also on the agenda, but she had a last minute conflict and could not attend. One of her staff stepped in and was able to answer questions the youth had. The goal for this meeting was to advocate for the continuation of programs such as the youth consortium and the necessary funding needed to keep these programs running. The students stressed the importance of these programs in order to provide alternatives for teenage drug use.

The Albany Youth Leadership Forum was a success and youth bureaus across the state look forward to several more in the upcoming years.