Listening
I was able to attend the Listening Forum hosted by
the Vermont Commission on Women (VWC) this week. It was moving to hear the
perspectives and concerns of young women and girls in Bennington County. The
aim of the listening forum was for agencies and community leaders to learn how
they can strengthen their work to better serve these women.
Young women and girls from area high schools and
middle schools presented their stories that ranged from success stories to
victim stories. Some identified as teens overcoming the stigma of teen pregnancy,
some identified as teens that were once shy and detached, and now are involved
and connected to others.
The participants were asked to come up with ideas
about what young women need to thrive in this community. Their contributions
included: support, respect, privacy, trust in relationships, positivity, goals,
positive connections to the community, ownership in decision-making, and faith
in one’s self and others. Other more tangible ideas were: a confidant, access
to mental health, insurance, afterschool activities, transportation to
afterschool activities, and information about accessing community resources.
It was an uplifting experience to hear directly
from the teens and girls who use community resources or extracurricular
activities to build a network of trusted individuals who care. I heard
inspirational stories of empathetic teachers at the local high school giving
students a voice through the performing arts or leadership development, and
alternative school programs building teens up through leadership roles.
After leaving the forum with a great sense of
hope, I am more confident in the tenacity of youth in this community. Keeping
the stories and ideas these remarkable young women shared close to my heart, I’ll
draw on them while designing workshops, community service projects, and communication
to youth for this year. All the while, I hope to further the notion that there
are many stories of youth in the Bennington area if we choose to listen.
For more information on the Vermont Commission on Women:
http://women.vermont.gov/
For more information on the Vermont Commission on Women:
http://women.vermont.gov/
For more information about the SerVermont:
For more information about Southwestern Vermont Medical Center:
For more information about AmeriCorps VISTA:
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