Youths to discuss festival violence
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Local youths, in an effort to address the Mardi Gras melee as well as other issues, will convene at a Youth Congress Town Hall on April 13 at Seattle Center.
"Our whole goal is to give young adults an opportunity to take charge, to have a voice," said James Kelly, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, which is organizing the town hall as part of a newly created Central Area Youth Congress.
The goal of the congress is to provide mentoring to more than 75 at-risk kids and young adults ages 10 to 19 for nine months by providing after-school activities, internships and retreats. Youths will also weigh in politically, identifying needs and available resources. For example, participants could lobby the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department for more services, Kelly said.
United Way of King County this week granted $19,800 in initial funding for the congress. Organizers also hope for financial help from the city of Seattle, the Seattle Foundation and the Frank Russell Foundation.
Kelly said he hoped the discussion would be included as part of the recently organized task force looking at the violence that erupted at Seattle's Mardi Gras on Feb. 27.