7^th Annual Mayor's Youth Summit

An Odyssey into the Future

The 2001 Mayor’s Youth Summit was held on Saturday, April 7^th at Madison Park Community Center, taking more than 1,500 Boston youth on "An Odyssey into the Future." The day's events focused on showing youth ways to prepare for the future through education, training, internships, and volunteering.

Peer leaders from the Nazarro, Gallivan and Murphy Community Centers performed skits and made presentations about issues like domestic violence, diversity and drug abuse. Dr. Jeffery Samet from Boston Medical Center showed a video about heroin addiction entitled "I'm not a Junkie."

The entertainment segment featured local performers including Climax, teens from the Maverick Youth Center, Boys of the Future, the Camilla Sisters, and Youth Service Officer Rogers.

Guest appearances were made by Former Boston Bruins All-Star, Cam Neely and Frank Castillo of the Boston Red Sox.

The Fleet Center donated 500 basketballs and 500 street hockey sticks to youth groups who attended the summit.

Steve Burton, WBZ Sportscaster, shared stories of his experience as a teenager, telling how he coped with challenges that many members of the audience will face or have faced already.

A diverse career panel composed of professionals including a plumber, a police officer, a graduate student, and employees of several different city offices explained their backgrounds and answered questions from the young people in the audience. Panelists emphasized the importance of respect, education, and communication in achieving their goals.

Officers Grubbs,Baxter,Rogers competed to be voted favorite Youth Service Officer by the attendants of the Youth Summit.

Over 75 resource tables were available as youth enjoyed breakfast and lunch courtesy of the Hard Rock Cafe.