Here is a link to the press release that came out the other day. The Holyoke Youth Commission did a great job explaining the project and conveying their excitement.

http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-...

The Holyoke Youth Commission met today for a press conference to announce that the Community Vision Map is a top 20 finalist for the Make It Your Own Award. They first met to discuss the project and come up with some ideas for getting it going. They are totally excited to get started. They will be outreaching to other programs and to get adults involved. They plan to do a series of forums and then a large event to get all the ideas together for the Vision Map. They also want to make sure the ideas really happen. They love the idea of being able to get the word out on the web and through social networks like MySpace and Facebook.

What I think about the Youth Vision Map is that the kids had a lot of great ideas and I think that we should start our own and give some ideas of what we want. I like the fact that they put a lot of work in the map and that they can make a difference from a piece of paper and put their ideas together to make it happen.

What I like about the Vision Map is no MCAS because it takes time out of class work and because the state says that Holyoke is a failure and that makes us feel like nothing. I want a teen café because we can hang out and talk to our friends. The Vision Map is great because the things there are what we want in Holyoke.

What I think of the Youth Vision Map is that it makes you think of how Holyoke would be in the future and it’s very encouraging how young youth our age had the courage in reaching out for their goals in making Holyoke a better place. The Vision Map has many ideas that have been accomplished from 2001 – 2008. It also has many ideas that would be nice to see in our community. That’s what I think about the Vision Map.

The Holyoke Youth Vision Map is very important. I feel that this map empowers kids to do better and actually think about doing something that will help their community. I was really little when this vision map was created. I still remember the kids older than me having so much fun and feeling good about themselves because they were making a difference in their community. Now that I’m in the same position they were I would like to do the same. I believe that a lot of the kids who became a part of this will want to make it happen. With all the ideas on this map, it would make them think that “I can do this, I can make a difference”. So when they grow up and look back at what they did and tell their story on how they were just a group of kids that people thought they don’t know better, they’re just from a run-down neighborhood and prove them wrong…. I am proud to be a part of this map and I would like to tell my story.