Youth Empowerment Conference Seeks Presenters

PITTSBURG – Supervisor Federal Glover’s Youth Summit is undergoing a transformation this year with a new outlook, emphasis and a new name.

The annual summit is going to be known as “Y Assemble.” That was chosen because it can be a question or a statement depending on the needs of the individual.

“The Youth Summit concept that I started 15 years ago was one of the first and – at the time – unique,” said Glover. “But after a decade-and-a-half, it is time for a change because the world has changed.”

The youth conference will be May 21 at Pittsburg High School, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The problems young people are facing today are basically the same,” Glover continued, “coping peer pressure, fitting in, finding a job, going to college” but they are occurring in an environment that makes the competition more fierce and the personal problems more intense.

“Fifteen years ago, youth could go out and find a summer job by looking at the want ads or knocking on the doors of local businesses,” said Glover. “That world doesn’t exist anymore. Today you have to be able to present yourself on the Internet and your Facebook page could doom your prospects for a well-paying job.

“Fifteen years ago, there was no such thing as cyberbullying,” he said. “Now, the bullying and public shaming can be so great that young people are killing themselves.”

With the changed world in mind, this year’s youth conclave wants to have workshops and presenters who can address the youth issues of the 21st century.

Would-be presenters are being asked to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP) that can be found online at tinyurl.com/yassemble.

Applicants will be informed if selected or not, and an interview may follow, if necessary. The deadline for RFPs is March 21.