VWC hosts America's Promise Youth Summit
by Darlene Davis

Hey, hey, hey, the gang’s all here! All 400 Youth Summit participants throughout the Hampton Roads area, that is.

The Youth Celebration Summit got underway in the Cunningham Gymnasium October 12 as an extension of President Clinton’s Summit on America’s Future held last April.

Among the noteworthy guest speakers were Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf, messages sent from Virginia Governor George Allen and General Colin Powell, and Charles Pugh, WAVY-TV news anchor and host of “Kid’s Talk,” a program dealing with subjects that concern children.

“The energy from a lightning bolt is already out there,” said Pugh. “If you can harness it and put it in the right direction which makes magic. Kids just need a conductor. I help young people harness energy in a positive way.”

Teens spent the day, starting at 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., participating in discussion sessions and being entertained by various youth groups.

Performers included the Philippine American Dance Troop and the Hampton Marching Elite, which consists of first to eighth graders who perform during half-times at NBA games. Phazz I, a troop that combines sign language, singing, and acting to promote positive messages to teens, also performed.

Adults were not the only sponsors of this summit. Students from surrounding universities and colleges, including VWC, volunteered their time and energy to make this a successful event.

Crystal Thomas, a Hampton University volunteer, was suffering from a very bad cold but still came to the summit. “I just really wanted to help out,” she croaked.

College and graduate students played roles as facilitators and recorders of ideas, solutions, and problems youth in south Hampton Roads face.

A popular issue for discussion was finding safe and fun places to go after school. “We need better playgrounds and need to get rid of the drugs. Other people have gone over there to hang out and have taken them over,” Kianna Walker said, shaking her head.

“Yeah,” responded another teen. “We can only hang out at Wal-Mart.”

These are the responses that youth summit organizers were looking for.

According to Cherylann Dorsey, community relations manager of the Hampton Roads area, the major goals of the summit were to “raise the consciousness of our community about youth and youth issues and give the youth an opportunity to voice their ideas about our community.”

Aimee Musimann of Rosemont Elementary in Norfolk, was concerned with youth being able to speak their minds. “We shouldn’t get in trouble for voicing our true opinions. There’s a scare factor that needs to be taken out.”

VWC junior Keri Meyer, a summit facilitator, said, “In general this has been as awesome experience. Even though we’re listening, I feel like the kids don’t expect results. As a facilitator, I can’t do anything to help and it’s frustrating.”

Student concerns raised in discussion sessions will be put in a report that will be addressed and discussed at a Mayor’s Summit in February.

The Youth Celebration Summit, which was co-chaired by VWC President William T. Greer and Scott Sachs, a junior at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, consisted of between 50 and 90 teens from their respective cities of Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Suffolk.

The day wasn’t all hard work and no play. Herman Hurston, a 29-year-old comedian, headed up an icebreaker to get the teens comfortable with where they were.

The entertainers from Phazz I left teens with three positive messages. “Make decisions quickly and correctly. You don’t have to get high to have fun,” and “If you know what is right, go back and teach your neighborhood.”

Pugh, whose father committed suicide a year ago on the same day the summit was held, said “Life is a celebration every single solitary day. I’m encouraged by the kid’s hope, the young faces smiling and eager to do something constructive. Hope was something my dad didn’t have.”

Mayor Oberndorf said, “Our vision is that in 10 years every young person in every neighborhood in South Hampton Roads will have the competence, character, confidence, and connections needed to live a healthy, fulfilling life and to contribute positively to society.”