Youth Conferences

The conferences address topics ranging from discrimination and stereotypes to body image and bullying. They help students develop leadership skills and create action plans to promote respectful and safe learning environments.

Community Tampa Bay conducts Youth Conferences / Unity Days in the course of the school year in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the Bay area. Every youth conference is preceded by a planning session with key individuals from the school (usually the principal, leaders of the student body, the multicultural liaison or AP for curriculum development).

Our 2008-2009 school year is quickly approaching. Now is the time to sign up for your Youth Conference! We are looking forward to coming to your school and working with your students to promote respect and dialogue. Contact Program Specialist Malika Rudd to schedule.

Upcoming Youth Conferences

• September:
• Bayside High
  September 10, 2008
  Gossip
• Thurgood Marshall
  September 16, 2008
  Gossip
• Garrison Jones Elementary
  September 23,2008
  Bullying
• October:
  • Campbell Park Elementary
    October 2, 2008
    Leadership
  • Tyrone Middle School
    October 3, 2008
    Bullying
  • Gibbs High
    October 10, 2008
    Character Building
  • Palm Harbor University High
    October 23, 2008
    Racial Diversity
  • Eastlake High
    October 29, 2008
    Cultural Awareness
  • Tarpon Spring High
    October 31, 2008
    Diversity
• November:
  • Largo High
    November 21, 2008
    Respect & Cultural Awareness

Survey among high school students show only 27% say students respect each other.

Click here to read Community Tampa Bay’s letter to the Editor

“Since the conference, I have I have noticed more unity within our walls and less segregation. The students who attended the conference are now demonstrating leadership and making the greatest change in our school.” -- R. Mull, Boca Ciega High School.

See Community Tampa Bay in action! Click here to watch the School Channel's story on our Youth conference at Sutherland Elementary.

Click here to view a sample agenda

Who participates?
The Youth Conferences / Unity Days bring together a diverse group of youth (elementary, middle, high school or college age) from the same school or organization for a day of learning and community building. Typically, a Youth Conference or Unity Day accommodates 50 to 60 participants.

Who facilitates and what method is used?
Working with youth leaders, Community Tampa Bay facilitators utilize a variety of team building and interactive educational methods to engage students and provide an optimum learning experience. Some of these include issue-oriented workshops, group discussions, role-playing, presentations and strategic planning.

Youth Conferences / Unity Days Mission Statement:
Promoting Safe Learning Environments

"I would like to thank you for enabling Madeira Beach Middle school to host a Youth conference on January 29th, 2008. All of you were very enthusiastic and kept our students interested and involved. You have helped us build a stronger student body that embraces diversity”

Breda Poff
Principal
Madeira Beach Middle School

“On November 2, 2006, Sutherland Elementary was most fortunate to have Community Tampa Bay present a Youth Conference at our school. Student representatives from K – 5 engaged in well planned activities to learn about the harm name-calling can do. Through many fun activities, avenues of communication quickly opened up among students from diverse backgrounds and grade levels. By the end of the program, it was apparent that increased learning and awareness had taken place. Over the next week, several teachers reported that their students had effectively shared with their classes what they had learned. Community Tampa Bay presented a wonderful, high-energy program that will help make our campus a place in which every person is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race, faith, ethnicity, gender or age. Thank you, Community Tampa Bay, for a very inspiring day and for empowering our kids to make a positive change in their world one person at a time!”

Carolyn Britton
Multicultural Liaison
Sutherland Elementary School

Picture 1: At East Lake High School, students engage in the Concentric Circle activity to step out of their comfort zones
Picture 2: At Countryside High School, students get creative with the Human Machines
Picture 3: At Countryside High School, students begin thinking about how to Untie The Human Knot
Picture 4: Students listen to workshop at Ferrell Middle School.
Picture 5 & 6: Elementary Youth Conference