Silver Bay Institute holds Regional Roundtable on Youth Development
Youth Development leaders discuss top issues plaguing the region
Silver Bay YMCA held a Silver Bay Institute Regional Roundtable on Youth Development Saturday, April 27.
The roundtable brought together leaders and professionals in youth development from across the region to discuss the top issues plaguing the region regarding youth.
Speakers included Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance Executive Director Donna Wotton, Jennifer Deyo from Families First in Essex County, PRIDE of Ticonderoga Executive Director Nicole Justice Green, We Are Instrumental Executive Director Dr. Evan Mack, Silver Bay YMCA Youth and Teen Director Jackie Palandrani, Town of Hague Supervisor Joshua Patchett, Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance Director Kate Ryan, and the keynote speaker New York State Assemblyman Matthew Simpson.
“It’s imperative to recognize that the future prosperity and wellbeing of our region are linked to how we nurture and support our children today. In order for the North Country and Adirondacks to become a truly viable economy we must prepare our youth to be responsible citizens equipped with the skills necessary for careers and raising families, thus improving the quality of life for all residents. However, this vision cannot be realized without addressing the significant challenges surrounding access and affordability of childcare that plague our state,” Assemblyman Matthew Simpson said during his keynote speech.
An engaging conversation followed Simpson’s keynote speech regarding concerns about the challenges supporting youth from birth to career in an area where many services are not available, and poverty prevails.
The area being a childcare desert, and the critical need for affordable childcare to create a functional economy, challenges of parenting and supporting children of all ages and preparing them to advance through school and into a career path, the need for funding and more proactive services, transportation, food security, and an improved social atmosphere to help youth succeed were all discussed during the roundtable.
“Building a strong foundation for our children’s future requires affordable childcare, parental support, access to education and career opportunities, essential services like transportation and food security, and an improved social atmosphere. Together, we can create a community where every child has the opportunity to succeed. Working with these organizations gives me hope we can make this happen,” stated Palandrani after the institute concluded.
The institute ended with the conclusion that there is a definitive need for state funding for childcare, more proactive services to support youth in the community, and the removal of barriers around starting childcare facilities.
In addition to the ideas provided to address some of the issues plaguing the community, the Silver Bay Institute provided an opportunity for networking with some of the region’s top leaders and workforce in youth development. The institute also opened doors for potential partnerships in the youth development field for the future.
Silver Bay YMCA’s VP of Development and Government Relations Walt Lender concluded on the outcome of the Institute, “Silver Bay was pleased to host the recent roundtable discussion on childcare and youth development in the North Country. We live in rural areas where positive youth development is challenging. We were thrilled that the experts on the panel were able to spend their time together to discuss ways to improve how youth in our community can better be supported. We will be looking at other opportunities to bring regional leaders together to help solve other challenges in our society.”
More Silver Bay Institutes are being planned for later this year. Make sure to follow Silver Bay YMCA on Facebook to get updates for when the next institute is announced.
About Silver Bay Institute: Silver Bay Institute is designed to address pressing social issues from a spiritual perspective by engaging subject matter experts with individuals seeking ways to address the needs of others. Day workshops and multi-day retreats will cover topics including Housing in the North Country, Environmental Stewardship and Creation, Pastoral Care, Faith and Inclusion, Building Teams with a Remote Workforce, Engaging Youth in Worship, and Child Development.
About Silver Bay YMCA: Silver Bay YMCA, founded in 1902, is in Silver Bay, NY, just minutes south of Hague. Its 700-acre campus along one mile of Lake George shoreline offers a breadth of programs for all ages. Silver Bay YMCA is consistently ranked one of the top ten family reunion sites in the country and is on the National Register of Historic Places with the U.S. Department of the Interior. As a mission-based charity, Silver Bay YMCA offers outreach programs in addition to its core activities as a premier conference and family retreat center. Learn more about Silver Bay at www.silverbay.org.
Our MISSION: To foster relationships, strengthen communities and nurture spirit, mind, and body for all.
Our IMPACT: Because of Silver Bay YMCA, connections between people and family are stronger. People are more connected, respectful, and caring. They have the confidence to develop to their full potential and to positively impact the communities in which they work and live. As a result, communities are more dynamic, inclusive, and diverse. As stewards of Lake George, we inspire people to be stewards of the environment while they are visiting our magnificent campus and in their home communities.