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MARKOWITZ AND BROOKLYN TEENS ANNOUNCE BROOKLYN YOUTH LaB 2005

Photographs by Andy Kadin
In photo 1: Brooklyn Youth Lab host committee members present the Truth or Dare Wheel, one of the many features of the upcoming conference. Pictured (from left) Anastasia Poliakova of Bensonhurst, age 17; Emily Schultze of Park Slope, age 16; Monica Rauda of Sunset Park age 19; Lino-Carl Jean of Mill Basin, age 18; Gabrielle Orosco of Mill Basin, age 17; Dmitriy Seitniazov of Sheepshead Bay, age 20.

Brooklyn Hosts Teen Summit for Young Adults from London and Brooklyn

On Tuesday, July 26, Borough President Marty Markowitz and Brooklyn teen leaders announced details of the first-ever Brooklyn Youth LaB. On Saturday, August 6 & Sunday, August 7, a group of young adults and teens from London, UK and Brooklyn, USA will come together for Brooklyn Youth LaB 2005, a smart, hip and fun public conference, developed for and by teens ages 15-19. On Tuesday, the Brooklyn teens demonstrated the Truth or Dare Wheel at Borough Hall.

“After sending 25 young Brooklynites to a conference in south London last year, Brooklyn will now roll out the red carpet for a delegation of London teens at our first-ever youth lab conference,” said Borough President Markowitz. “Too often, young people are told what should be important to them. At Brooklyn Youth LaB 2005, young people chose the topics and will frame the discussion to tell us know-it-all adults what they care about and what they think the future should look like. Open to anyone age 15 to 19, Youth LaB will encourage frank, open dialogues on personal, community, and global issues important to our teens.”

“Going to London was a great experience,” said Monica Rauda of Sunset Park, Youth Host Committee Member, age 18. “I have learned that New York City is not the only place that has issues. London is diverse, cultural and shares some conflicts that New York deals with today. I am doing this conference to motivate and influence teens on what is happening in their community. I want teens to know their identity and know that there are major factors shaping their society and that learning more about it can help them to be a better person. Teens should take a stand and let their voices be heard. They should never be afraid to share what they believe and what makes them special.”

Up to 1,000 teens are expected over two days for workshops, panels, a youth filmfest, and a closing night party. Youth LaB 2005 will feature workshops on Healthy Lifestyles (teen smoking, peer pressure, self image), Peace (diversity, dating violence, gangs, bullies), and Empowerment (resume writing, first financial planning, the universal age of adulthood, consumerism, teen rights and growing up creative). The youth filmfest will showcase over a dozen films, including a screening of Bullets in the Hood: A Bed-Stuy Story, along with talk backs from the young filmmakers. The closing night party will include a special performance by the poets of def poetry jam and music provided by Z100.

The conference, located at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus, will cost $5 for one day and $8 for both days. Group rates will be available. All profits will support Camp Brooklyn. The public should call 718-802-4042 or visit www.brooklyn-usa.org for more information.

Brooklyn Youth LaB 2005 program partners include: Break the Cycle; Downtown Community Television Center; PRO-TV; Facing History and Ourselves; Groundswell Community Mural Project; The HBO Young Filmmakers Lab; The Junior League of Brooklyn; The LamBrook Project; MoppTopp Records: Project Youth Initiative (PYI); New York City Office of Emergency Management; NYPD: Anti-Gang and Hate Crimes units; poets of def poetry jam; The Red Hook Youth Court; Talking Changes; and TEACH (Teens Educating About Community Health). Teen People Magazine, Déjà Vu and the Flava Unit of Power 105.1, New Jersey Nets, Brooklyn Cyclones, AOL RED and Z100 are also supporting this teen summit.

Youth organizations participating in the conference include: Chinese American Planning Council; Christian Fellowship; Council for Unity; Crown Heights Youth Collective; Dynamic Youth Community; East New York Urban Youth Corps; Educators for Children Youth and Families; Madison Square Boys & Girls Club; Project Reach Youth; Prospect Park Youth Alliance; UPROSE (United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park) and Youth for Education & Sports.