Diversity Forum to hear teens’ viewpoint

Stewart Smith
Staff Reporter

Huntsville’s teenagers will have the opportunity to speak their mind and tell adults what really matters to them at Monday evening’s monthly Diversity Forum.

The forum, supported by several local churches as well as organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the League of United Latin American Citizens Council, is intended to reach out to the community and promote cultural awareness. Monday’s meeting, said Diversity Forum board of directors chairperson Mary Novark, is an avenue to provide a voice for a demographic often ignored by communities.

“They are our future voice, and if they don’t speak who will,” Novark said.

The Huntsville Youth Council, specifically, will be present to speak on behalf of the city’s youth. Scott Atnip, executive director for Huntsville’s Promise, said forums such as these are imperative because what adults believe to be important to teens is rarely congruent with what actually is.

“We as adults can go around and plan events and activities and plan strategies all day long, but until we get youth input on those plans, we are not 100 percent sure that they are going to be effective. Unless there is youth input on the decision process, we don’t know it is going to meet the needs that they have,” Atnip said. “They are into schools and youth programs, they know the problems.”

Kevin Young, senior pastor at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, said this disparity between youth and adults is because of out-of-date ideals.

“Some of the aspirations, hopes that we have for our youth still represent some of the ideals that inspired us when we were youth, and we don’t always recognize that those solutions really are out of touch with the actual culture that they live in,” Young said.

“And I think that’s one of those reasons to, not only listen to them, but to take them seriously and realize that there is something that we can learn about their world by listening to what they have to say instead of trying to make it fit what we think it should be.”

Young said too often do adults barrage youth with much criticism and little encouragement.

“I hope that this will be about practical, realizable goals, not making them feel bad about what they are doing,” Young said. “If the home is the real problem for youth, let’s talk about practical solutions for their home life.”

The meeting will take place Monday at 7 p.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 700 Highway 30 East.

10.05.06