youth conference

In sports and in life, the opportunity to find the “sweet spot” is always worth the effort.

Look at the success of the new torpedo bats in baseball. Putting the weight and power to the sweet spot has everyone from the Yankees to youth players a smart way to play better.

How do we take that same innovation to our community? As an economic developer, it’s by focusing on the “sweet spot” of career discovery and exploration – the middle school and junior high years!

In March, I was fortunate to present at this year’s annual Genesee County Youth Bureau Conference at Genesee Community College. The youth conference gives 7th and 8th grade students another great way to learn about life skills and careers as they
continue their educational journeys. 

It was an outstanding program, and students left our sessions inspired to start thinking about what they can do in school and after graduation. 

These students are right in the sweet spot to start this journey.

There are great opportunities in emerging fields that they weren’t aware of. Companies are urgently looking to fill their workforce pipeline and there are many good paying jobs with the potential for long-term professional and financial growth.

They have time to grow the skills that it will take to be successful in them. They have time to test out what fields interest them, discover what works and what doesn’t, and get into great experiences offered by the Genesee County Business Education Alliance, Genesee Valley BOCES, their school, and new opportunities coming to Genesee County like national career readiness certificates with the ACT. 

Parents, I know this is a lot of information to take in. I want to make it simple for you. That’s why it’s okay to start with a conversation with Coach SwazZ. I understand the challenges, and the opportunities, and have pathways to fast track your child through a career exploration journey that combines their personal interests with experiential learning. We aim to create an ideal blend of passion and professionalism in supporting youth to achieve success right here in Genesee County.

Even with these advantages, we have to keep swinging. The torpedo bats have given the Yankees great early results, but every home run starts with a player that’s put in the effort to improve.

And there’s still going to be missed swings and strike outs. The fact is that 21.4% of students who enroll in college dropout their first year. 

Unfortunately, for some, their initial plans do not materialize due to various factors such as academic pressures, financial difficulties, or personal circumstances. Sometimes though it’s simply because they are not enjoying what they are learning in the classroom and there is nothing wrong with that!

There is a reason why so many of our partners in the workforce space focus on students at an early. Not every good paying job requires a college diploma and employers aren’t necessarily looking for college graduates because they are willing to train students and provide them the skills for success. The earlier we can connect with younger students the better the opportunity for them to learn about all the opportunities available to them in the workplace.

As a youth baseball coach and as a career coach, my message is the same. 

Control the controllables. 

Your work ethic, effort, body language, energy, attitude, passion, being coachable, going the extra mile and being prepared are all within your own control and will lead you to sustained success in your educational and professional journeys.

Visit www.gcedc.com/workforceprograms to access our free career checklist, featuring eight essential steps to jumpstart your professional journey.

If you are a student, parent, teacher, or guidance counselor, contact me at csuozzi@gcedc.com to learn how to get involved today! 

Chris “Coach SwazZ” Suozzi is the Executive Vice President of Business & Workforce Development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Youth Bureau sponsored the 36th Annual Youth Conference at Genesee Community College on March 20.

This conference is offered on an annual basis to local seventh- and eighth-grade students in Genesee and Orleans County in an effort to address pertinent social issues of interest to middle school-aged youth. There were 340 seventh-and eighth-grade students in attendance.

This year we focused on promoting and fostering healthy relationships, mental well-being, and how social media affects one’s mental health. 

Our interactive keynote speaker, Logan Taylor of Y.B.Normal?, spoke on the importance of respecting differences, having healthy boundaries, and the significance of coping skills. His presentation titled “You Matter” emphasized the importance of having a mental health routine and being the best version of yourself. Logan highlighted several important skills throughout his speech including leadership, critical thinking, teamwork, empathy, adaptability, and problem solving.

A total of 22 different workshops were offered to students. These workshops included a variety of human service organizations from Genesee County. The workshops were tailored to be interesting, engaging, and hands-on while addressing the theme of the conference. Topics addressed in the workshops included, Self-Defense and Personal Safety, Social Media Awareness and Online Safety, Mechatronics, Building Confidence Through Geocaching, Musical Theatre and Public Speaking, Healthy Relationships and Empowerment, and many more.

Members of the Youth Conference Committee are extremely grateful to the workshop presenters who volunteered their time to educate our area seventh and eighth graders. We are also grateful to the following businesses/organizations that provided discounts or donations for the conference…Genesee Community College, GCEDC, and Subway.

For more information on the annual Genesee County Youth Conference or to find out how you can participate in the next event, call the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 585-344-3960.

Article submitted by Chelsea Green, Genesee County Youth Bureau.

The Genesee County Youth Conference Coalition sponsored the 32nd Annual Youth Conference at Genesee Community College on March 15, 2022.

This conference is offered on an annual basis to local seventh- and eighth-grade students in Genesee and Orleans County in an effort to address pertinent social issues of interest to youngsters of middle-school age. There were approximately 175 seventh- and eighth-grade students in attendance.

This year’s theme of the conference was “We Are Stronger Together.” 

The inspiring speaker, Earl Ameen made the trip up from Texas to speak with our students. Earl’s message inspired youth to believe in themselves, embrace love, and to become more kind and compassionate while respecting everyone.

A variety of human service organizations in Genesee County contributed to the event by organizing a workshop for students to attend that day. Workshops were tailored to be interesting, engaging, and hands-on while being taught valuable lessons. Some of these workshop topics were: healthy eating habits, building functional relationships, Geocaching, learning about disabilities, teambuilding, and internet safety. Dance, Yoga, and WERQ were popular workshops attended as well!

Members of the Youth Conference Committee are extremely grateful to the workshop presenters who volunteered their time to educate our area's seventh and eighth-graders. We are also grateful to the following businesses/organizations that provided discounts or donations for the conference…Genesee Community College, Genesee and Orleans County Stop DWI Programs, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee County, and Subway.

The Genesee County Youth Conference Committee is comprised of representatives from the following agencies: Genesee-Orleans County Youth Bureau, Genesee Community College, Genesee County Job Development, YMCA, Community Action, and Reality Check/Roswell.  

For more information on this year’s Genesee County Youth Conference or to find out how you can participate in the next event, call the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 585-344-3960.

Photos by Howard Owens

Everybody needs a mentor, a trusted adult, to talk with about life's difficulties, Tom Thalen, an anti-bullying expert from Michigan told a group of sixth-graders at a youth conference at Genesee Community College on Tuesday.

True, most bullying takes place in middle school, but even 15 percent of 12th-graders report being bullied on a regular basis (meaning, at least three times a month).

And nearly 15 percent of adults report being bullied at their jobs.

"Your whole life, you're going to have to deal with people who are dealing with their own hurt, who are messed up, and are going to bully you," Thelen said. 

That means, we all need to learn how to control our response, remain calm, don't react in anger or hurt, don't lash out, and find a trusted adult to talk to about it. For schoolchildren, that often means reporting it to a teacher or administrator so an adult can deal with the issue.

Thelen said he was bullied as a child and was angry and sullen until he met Mrs. Burdick, a teacher who helped him learn to not let others control his thinking and his actions.

By the time he was in high school, he recognized bullying for what it is  -- it's not teasing, it's not a joke, it's something meant to humiliate another person that attacks their identity -- and he learned to control his response.

He also learned to help protect other students from bullying.

He recalled an incident in high school when he was standing in line at lunch in the cafeteria and two boys started making comments to a girl who was new to the school about the food she was putting on her plate.

"Take an extra dessert," they said.

They made similar comments about the types and amount of food on her plate. You know what they were getting at.

Thelen did nothing that day but he said it bothered him.

Then it happened the next day. And still, he did nothing.

That night, he looked at himself in the mirror, angry at himself, and became determined not to let it happen again.

When it happened again, he gently but firmly said, "Hey, guys, cut it out."

Years later, he got a note on Facebook from that girl praising him for being an inspiration and good example to his classmates. He was confused at first. He didn't immediately think of that incident. Then when he realized who she was -- the new girl, the girl who didn't know the old Tom, the Tom who was angry and sullen, only the Tom who was going through the process of being a better human being -- only then did he understand who it was she remembered.

She remembered the guy who stood up for her. And, he understood, it made a difference.

"I can’t change the rest of the world," Thelen told the sixth-graders. "I can't change what people do. But I can change what I do. You deserve to live an emotionally intelligent life."

Tom Thelen on the web.

Press release:

The Genesee County Youth Conference Coalition sponsored its 25th Annual Youth Conference at Genesee Community College this week.

This conference is offered on an annual basis to local seventh- and eighth-grade students in an effort to address pertinent social issues of interest to youngsters of middle-school age.

This year we also invited a select group of students from Orleans County. There were approximately 500 seventh- and eighth-grade students in attendance.

This year’s theme of the conference was “Illusions … To Lead or to be Mis-Led.” 

The keynote speaker, nationally known Illusionist Tom Coverly, addressed the kids in the areas of bullying, respect and positive decision-making. 

After the keynote, students attended two morning workshops, were provided lunch and then attended an interactive afternoon workshop. Professionals from the community volunteered their time to provide information to the students in their respective fields of expertise.

Workshops were provided in the areas of…Communication, Yoga, Nutrition, Careers, Pet Therapy, Zumba, Triple D-Dodgeball (Drug and Alcohol Awareness Game), Conflict Resolution, Dance, Getting Active with GPS, Creating Artist Trading Cards, Assuring a Positive Future and many others.  

Members of the Youth Conference Committee are extremely grateful to the workshop presenters who volunteered their time to educate our area seventh and eighth graders. We are also grateful to the following businesses/organizations that provided discounts or donations for the conference…Genesee County Stop DWI Program, Upstate Milk and Subway.

The Genesee County Youth Conference Committee is comprised of representatives from the following agencies: Batavia Youth Bureau, Genesee County Youth Bureau, Genesee Community College, GCASA and YMCA.  

For more information on this year’s Genesee County Youth Conference or to find out how you can participate in the next event, call the Batavia Youth Bureau at 585-345-6420 or the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 585-344-3960.

Submitted photo: Pictured are the 500 seventh and eighth graders and their school chaperones who attended the 2013 Genesee County Youth Conference held at GCC on March 12, being addressed by Tom Coverly, “The Illusionist,” and Keynote Speaker.