"Our goal is to
give Somerville youth an opportunity to use their own experiences,
their voices, and their unique talents to raise awareness about the
issues affecting their lives and the community and inspire their peers
to work together toward positive change" said Stephanie Berkowitz, the
Director of External Relations for Teen Empowerment.

At the
conference, themed "The Faces of Change: The Changes We Face,"
presentations by youth speakers will be used to foster dialogue among a
diverse group of participants. Using mediums such as rap, poetry, plays
and dance, youths will have a chance to express their perspectives on
issues that affect them, including teen pregnancy, gang violence,
immigration.

The conference will kick off with a "Jobs and
Services Fair" that will provide participants with information on local
services available to Somerville youths, and expose them to potential
employers. There will also be a fashion design workshop, an address
from Mayor Curtatone, and a speech by Terrel Walton, a former
Somerville High School student who was left partially paralyzed by a
gang-related shooting.

The conference will also highlight Teen
Empowerment's "successful efforts to improve youth outcomes in
Somerville over the past few years," according to Berkowitz. One such
successful effort came out of the 2007 conference, where teens
identified a lack of summer job opportunities for the city's teenagers,
and sent a letter to the Mayor's Youth Council. Their appeal led to
increased funding in the city's budget to create more jobs, and to the
appointment of a summer youth employment coordinator.

Last
year's conference drew a crowd of almost 700 young people, according to
organizers, and they expect a similar turnout this year. The conference
will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Somerville High School.
Tickets are $3, and the admission cost covers lunch. For more
information, you can visit Teen Empowerment's Web site,
http://www.teenempowerment.org/somerville/, or call them at
617-628-0710.