Training & Capacity Building News
Fifth Annual Youth Work Intensive Held at UMass-Boston
Keynote speaker Shannon O'Brien
March 10, 2006
The Fifth Annual Youth Work Intensive conference, held at the University of Massachusetts-Boston drew 150 youth workers from around the state. Keynote speaker Shannon O’Brien, CEO of the Girl Scouts, Patriots Trail Council and a former state Senator, reaffirmed the important role youth workers play today in the lives of urban youth and in the broader community. Drawing from her own experiences, she explained how essential her extracurricular activities were to her personal development and growth.
The primary role of youth workers is to support youth, ages 7-19, through out-of-school-time programs, services and learning activities. Youth workers bridge the divide between promise and resources for many young people; they bring their skills and talents in diverse areas such as music, arts, academic disciplines, sports, community service, faith-service and a host of other areas and open up opportunities for youth to build skills and explore interests.
A program of The Medical Foundation, the Youth Work Intensive is a series of skill building workshops focused on the knowledge and practice of youth work. It brings together trainers and leading practitioners to provide sessions focused on skill development, promising practices, and tools for everyday use.
Shannon O’Brien’s message was particularly relevant as many youth workers will be heading up to the State House for the statewide Afterschool and Youth Lobby Day on Thursday, March 23, 2006. Youth workers heard O’Brien’s message about the power of caring and the impact it can have on the lives of young people. Many youth workers are planning to attend.
“We believe this conference was a great success,” said Mo Barbosa, Coordinator of The Medical Foundation’s BEST (Building Exemplary Systems for Training) Initiative. "The high attendance and enthusiasm indicates how important this type of training is to them. They know they are role models to youth, and they want to learn how to better serve youth and help them grow.”
The Youth Work Intensive attracted youth workers from statewide social service agencies, after-school programs, social justice organizations and health, sports and arts programs. The two-day conference has gradually grown since it inception in 2002 and today is the largest program of its kind drawing participants from eastern Massachusetts and northern New England.
Sponsored by the BEST Initiative, a program of The Medical Foundation and the College of Public and Community Service at U-MASS Boston, the Youth Work Intensive is funded locally by The Boston Foundation, The Noonan Trust and an anonymous funder. The BEST Initiative’s mission is to support youth workers by offering professional develop opportunities to enhance their skills and encourage them in their profession. The College of Public and Community Service @ UMASS-Boston offers a unique degree program for community activists seeking a way to incorporate their work, life experience and a vision for a better urban environment into their education. The mission of the college is to educate students to foster the public good and aid the transformation to a more equitable society.
The primary role of youth workers is to support youth, ages 7-19, through out-of-school-time programs, services and learning activities. Youth workers bridge the divide between promise and resources for many young people; they bring their skills and talents in diverse areas such as music, arts, academic disciplines, sports, community service, faith-service and a host of other areas and open up opportunities for youth to build skills and explore interests.
A program of The Medical Foundation, the Youth Work Intensive is a series of skill building workshops focused on the knowledge and practice of youth work. It brings together trainers and leading practitioners to provide sessions focused on skill development, promising practices, and tools for everyday use.
Shannon O’Brien’s message was particularly relevant as many youth workers will be heading up to the State House for the statewide Afterschool and Youth Lobby Day on Thursday, March 23, 2006. Youth workers heard O’Brien’s message about the power of caring and the impact it can have on the lives of young people. Many youth workers are planning to attend.
“We believe this conference was a great success,” said Mo Barbosa, Coordinator of The Medical Foundation’s BEST (Building Exemplary Systems for Training) Initiative. "The high attendance and enthusiasm indicates how important this type of training is to them. They know they are role models to youth, and they want to learn how to better serve youth and help them grow.”
The Youth Work Intensive attracted youth workers from statewide social service agencies, after-school programs, social justice organizations and health, sports and arts programs. The two-day conference has gradually grown since it inception in 2002 and today is the largest program of its kind drawing participants from eastern Massachusetts and northern New England.
Sponsored by the BEST Initiative, a program of The Medical Foundation and the College of Public and Community Service at U-MASS Boston, the Youth Work Intensive is funded locally by The Boston Foundation, The Noonan Trust and an anonymous funder. The BEST Initiative’s mission is to support youth workers by offering professional develop opportunities to enhance their skills and encourage them in their profession. The College of Public and Community Service @ UMASS-Boston offers a unique degree program for community activists seeking a way to incorporate their work, life experience and a vision for a better urban environment into their education. The mission of the college is to educate students to foster the public good and aid the transformation to a more equitable society.
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Laurie Jo Wallace, MA
