Kids Speak Out

To the Editor:

Wow, what a wonderful forum our local high school students presented last Wednesday night! [April 28] According to John Hamilton, the facilitator, who has led many similar discussions all over Fairfield County, the Parent Connection’s “Kids Speak Out” program was the most honest, open dialogue he has ever experienced in a forum of this kind.

The students were incredible: mature, poised, articulate, humorous, candid, and courageous. They truly represented their reality regarding drug and alcohol use among young people in Newtown, and they each need to be applauded for coming forward to tell their personal stories. They are the best, bravest group of young people with whom we have ever had the privilege to work. They are strong leaders, who agreed to speak in order to make a positive difference in the community by giving the audience in the middle school auditorium a glimpse into their varied daily lives. Collectively they represented a cross section of the adolescent population in town, and their stories were as honest, yet different as any six individuals could possibly tell. What a gift we were given to hear their spontaneous answers to questions ranging from their relationships with their parents to their relationships with God, covering many compelling topics in between.

At a time when we are all waging an uphill battle against the negative forces that plague our society, these young men and women shone like beacons of hope for the future. Their message was plain and simple: stay close to your kids; don’t be afraid to ask the difficult questions — which may make you unpopular among your children and their peers; set a positive example, remain involved in your children’s lives through their adolescent years; trust your gut instinct if you think something’s awry; and love them unconditionally, especially during the trying times. This was the first of what the Parent Connection hopes will be a series of student forums, and we applaud this exceptional panel for having the conviction and courage to speak out in order to help create community awareness and inspire change.

We ask our many Newtown Parent Connection supporters to please rally in support of all our programs, as they are planned with your input and designed to strengthen families. Please make every effort to join us, especially at any future forum that involves our youth. Let us collectively extend our sincere appreciation, love, and pride for every one of the young people who took a risk to better our community last week, and encourage those whose voices we have not yet heard. In the meantime, let’s continue to truly listen to our children — they have a lot to say that we need to hear.

On Monday, May 10, there will be a NO SUDS forum held in conjunction with the Parent Connection. This event, titled “But It’s Only Beer… Everything You Need To Know About Alcohol And The Law,” will kick off a weeklong series of alcohol awareness programs in town and in the intermediate and middle schools. Please show the students our support and be at the Newtown Middle School auditorium from 7 to 9. Together we will make a difference.

For more information concerning Monday’s program, call Newtown Youth Services at 270-4335.

Most sincerely,

Dorrie Carolan & Donna DeLuca

Newtown Parent Connection

2 Elm Drive, Newtown                                                     May 5, 2004