Youth MOVE Maine Celebrates at National Training Conference
July 27th, 2011
Staffing the Youth MOVE Maine table at the national conference in Chicago are (from left): Jacinta Storer, Ashalie Wark, Chesari Tempesta and Ryun Anderson. (Photo by Lisa Preney)
State Chapter Active in Four Regions, Ready to Launch in Bangor
CHICAGO – After three years of mobilizing support, Youth Motivating Others through Voices of Experience (M.O.V.E.) National, now has 29 chapters in 25 states, including Maine. For the first time, Youth MOVE Maine joined colleagues and 1600 federally funded System of Care partners from across the United States at an annual Community Training conference July 19-21 to celebrate efforts to improve services for youth in mental health, juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
“It is great to connect with the national movement and with other states because we learn from each other and can effect change on a larger scale,” says Ryun Anderson, Youth MOVE Maine Coordinator.
Anderson and four staff shared that over the past year Youth` MOVE Maine has expanded from its core of young people in Lewiston to start groups and trainings for youth ages 14-25 in the midcoast, Kennebec Valley and southern Maine with a northern region just funded to start in October.
In the midcoast, a half dozen youth are engaged in peer support and trainings, including meditation, musical self-expression and leadership.
“We have ten youth from greater Portland advocating for better housing, and being trained in leadership and creative expression,” says Chesari Tempesta, Youth Resource Specialist.
In Augusta, 16 youth through partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club and Capital Clubhouse are tackling bullying and improved employment opportunities, in addition to attending leadership training and creative expression workshops,” says Ashalie Wark, Youth Resource Specialist.
The state chapter’s flagship group in Lewiston has 12 youth connected with the federal initiative Moving Forward working to improve housing, behavioral health services and employment opportunities, while taking cooking and other life skills classes.
To get in touch with a Youth MOVE Maine resource specialist, go to www.youthmovemaine.org
Youth MOVE Maine, a state chapter of Youth Move National, supports youth and adults in building the skills, partnerships, policies and practices essential to making sure all youth are connected, resilient, growing and included in the decisions that impact their lives.
