Summit shows pupils the future

Speakers reminded pupils that with leadership comes responsibility.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown City Schools' first teen summit emphasized working on ways to give youths the power to make better choices.
The summit was Saturday morning at Youngstown State University, and, among other things, addressed academics.
YSU President Dr. David Sweet welcomed about 250 pupils from city middle and high schools, as well as Austintown Fitch High School, to the "Future Leaders Teen Summit."
Objective
The event was designed to show pupils opportunities they might not be aware of and to teach them skills to seize those opportunities, especially in higher education.
"It's the opposite route of focusing on the fighting," Dr. Wendy Webb, city schools superintendent, said of seeking out positive opportunities. "We're going to focus on creating constructive situations that empower kids to make better choices, to understand that it's their responsibility to make choices."
Webb came up with the idea for the event after viewing a similar summit in Boston. A committee was formed as well as partnerships that helped finance and provide speakers for the event.
Main points
Rigor, relevance and relationships were the three main points the summit addressed. Pupils had discussions with speakers throughout the day on those points.
"If it is to be, it is up to me," was the message William Blake, director of student diversity at YSU, delivered to pupils. He focused on careers, higher education and the importance of planning.
Ilene Dixon, program director of Youngstown Urban Minority Alcohol & amp; Drug Abuse Outreach Program, discussed teen violence, the abuse of alcohol and drugs, and the consequences of involvement in those activities.
Mary Duke, executive director of Teen Straight Talk, discussed the benefits of TST's sexual abstinence program, and William Harris, executive director of the Young Black Men's Association and owner of Studio Next Level in Warren, offered insight of the media's influence on young people.
Performers
Lucky Penny from WGFT-102 JAMJ performed the song "You Can Do It" and helped out throughout the day. "I want to help kids go down the right path," he added.
Other performers included the groups Time Keepers and United, and the Woodrow Wilson High School ensemble.
The summit will happen at least semiannually. In the spring, the summit will be led by city school pupils with the guidance of the school district's Teen Summit Committee.