Peace Conference was a preview of Somerville’s future. If the future of this city is in the hands of the young people who stood on stage and eloquently called for unity, increased recreation funding and inclusive city policies, we are in good hands.

And give Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone credit. The city sponsored the program and encouraged the critical views of the kids. “Hold my feet to the fire,” he told the crowd of 660.

And some of the speakers did. A spoken-word performance calling for the City of Hope resolution to pass took our leaders to task in the right fashion – with reason and skill.

In Boston, where Teen Empowerment organizes a similar conference, officials avoid endorsing such independent straight talk, apparently in fear of getting their hands dirty with actual efforts to help city kids whose problems are complicated and averse to sound bite solutions.

Some of the day’s topics were negative – the image of a heroin addict turning blue and collapsing on the bathroom floor only to get his pockets cleaned out is a tough one to stomach. But if we choose to turn away from the young people in this city who lead such lives it won’t make them go away. 

Thank you Sean Post, Mike Sullivan, Enxhi Poppa, Greg Rego, Matt Dellisola, Mike Sullivan, Jonathan Mahoney, Elena Lafortune, Fervin Pineda, Alexis Ramos, Tanisha Duchatelier, Antoinette Toussaint, Danny Saldarriga, Jenny Cermeno, Brandon O’Regan, Charlynne Seely, Mark McLaughlin, Diana Estime, Curtis Jackson, Greg Mayala, Taquana Harding, Amanda Hardy, Debbie Jacquet, Keisha Jean-Louis, Bendhjy Nazaire, Jessica Vicente, Abdi Warsame, Mary Sullivan, Jessica Sullivan, Anna Rodriguez, Quis Roberts,  Tyler Clark, Tanya Joseph, Jenna Toro, Kristin Potrikus, Tatiana Rivera, Suzanne Styffe, Abdi Warsame, Nathilla Santos, Felicia Abbuah, Robbie Anderson, Ricky Arisme, Kathia Blaise, Jessica Clergeau, Wentz-Karl Clerjuste, Lois Contreras, Guebels Dieudonne, Carlos Freire, Kareem Gilbert, Leo Galindo, Verly Jean, Maude Jones, Tanya Joseph, Stephen McLaughlin, Andreana Parzial and Merlinda Petit. Thank you all for making our week, and our future, just a little bit brighter.