Walter and I are interns with the Child/Youth Friendly City Project. Our School, Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) has an internship program that all juniors are involved in. This internship program lasts for one Trimester and allows us to experience a professional working environment.

During our internship, we have been involved in various activities such as, but not limited to, Facilitating Conversions with parents about their goals for Denver. We helped facilitate a conversion with our mentor Katherine Plog Martinez at Merrill Middle School. Two questions were discussed by the parents. We wanted to get the parents opinions on what they thought would help make Denver a better city for children and youth. The questions that were asked were:

I. What would Denver look like, sound like, feel like, be like were it a child and youth friendly city?

Here are a few of their responses:
•City Wide community events
•Safe interactions
•Fly over walkways
•Youth volunteering
•Flat rate transit
•Diversion programs and logical consequences

II. Were Denver such a place, how would they city and its residents benefit?

Here are a few of their responses:
•Easier to work together with neighbors
•Business would be more accountable - socially responsible, greener, more productive.
•Youth and adults would be more accountable for their actions and would make better decisions.
•People would have a better understanding of self and others. They would be fascinated by differences.
•Less fear and less violence.

These are only a few of the answers that we received. This feedback was significant to help us better understand what parents thought was best for the city. This information will also help us create a city wide vision for Denver as a child/youth friendly city.

Although this was our first time being involved in facilitated conversations it is only one of the many Facilitated conversations that is done by CYFC in order to better understand the needs for the city.