The Power of Partnership

One of the benefits of being an advocate for youth/adult partnerships is that there is no shortage of positive reinforcement. I am consistently impressed by the amazing things I stumble across that are born from young people and adults working together. Take “Silent Message’, for example, a 30 minute film on child sexual abuse that is making headlines here in Oregon.

On the youth side of the partnership, Madras High School students who were motivated to do something in response to the rape and murder of a 14 year old friend. On the adult side of the partnership, Savenia Falquist, a Youth Development Consultant at Madras High School, and Duke White of Hudsonpro, his independent, family-run film company. The young people contributed their passion, energy, and perspective (“1000%”, according to 16 year old Janette Alonso, quoted in the Oregonian), and the adults contributed their resources and experience. The result is blowing people away.

You can learn more about “Silent Message” by following the link in the Web Resources section of the InterNetwork for Youth.