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Intergenerational communication a key for action

Event builds bridges toward community health

Voices of youth help maintaining a healthy and thriving community, according to organizers of The Future is Now! Youth Voices and Thriving Communities.

Powell River Voices and the Tools for Change program are sponsoring the event, which takes place on Saturday, May 31, at Cranberry Community Hall.

“This event aims to draw connections among all community members who are interested in working together toward a future that serves our region well,” said Janet Newbury, one of the organizers. “Building bridges between the young people who are committed to wellbeing in this region and other existing groups and initiatives can lead to new action.”

Organizers see immense changes going on in the Powell River region due to an array of local and global factors. They believe the more perspectives that can be meaningfully included in discussions around what’s next, the better for everyone. “Youth voices are too often missing from these important community dialogues, but that doesn’t mean young people aren’t engaged,” said Newbury. “They have important experiences and perspectives from which we can all learn.”

The Future is Now! is an evening of information, ideas and conversation with a panel of young local change makers, invited guest speaker Matt Hern, and audience members. Hern, from Vancouver, will share his knowledge and experience as a grassroots activist co-creating alternative spaces for youth, reclaiming the commons and re-imagining old ideas of community economic development.

Event organizers hope it will shine light on some of the powerful youth voices in the region, and provide an opportunity for everyone to engage around the role young people play in contributing to thriving communities.

A panel of young local leaders will discuss what kind of future they want for the region, what they are currently involved in, and how people can forge deeper connections to each other and this place so that Powell River will not just survive, but thrive, now and well into the future.

“I would love to see students and young people more integrated into decision-making bodies,” said panelist Ruby Barclay. “I want youth involved in making decisions around the things that directly affect us.”

Powell River Voices and Tools for Change are inviting people to find out how young people are working toward creating a region that is inclusive, healthy, resilient and culturally rich.

The event will take place at 7 pm at Cranberry Community Hall, 6828 Cranberry Street. Entrance is by donation and everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be provided by the Young Adult Community Kitchen.

“The more of us who come out for this exciting event, the greater our ability to work together toward the cultivation of a thriving community,” said Newbury.