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A Youth Participation Conference that was held on November 19, 2004, at the Tradewinds Restaurant inside Durfee High School included Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr., Superintendent Richard D. Pavao, Police Chief John M. Souza, School Committee member Aimee Bronhard and others listening to the plights of the city’s teenagers and offering their suggestions on what they and the students can do to solve their problems. The conference was established in part by the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families. Institute Executive Director Clifford M. Johnson said Fall River was one of 11 cities across the country to receive funding for the program and the only city within the state. Click here to read the entire Herald News story
 

"The conference started with a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation that highlighted the efforts of the Youth Forum. Following the presentation, students were able to ask the various officials questions regarding the issues that affect their lives... During the forum, they brought forward issues such as the difficulty of finding part-time employment, dealing with the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests, gang violence in the city and living conditions in some of the city’s projects like Watuppa Heights and Maple Gardens. The students also broke into groups to meet with some of the leaders who attended the conference to get their answers. ..One group met with Thomas Collins, director of the Housing Authority. Students in that group asked about the future of the Watuppa Heights projects and in turn learned about the differences between federal- and state-funded housing. Another group met exclusively with Souza, who decided on a format for the department’s next Professional Development Day." (Courtesy Herald News)

Click here to see pictures of the 2004 Mayor's Youth Forum