Why is it that only 52% of youth from the Windsor Central Supervisory Union report that they feel they MATTER to the community? 

The Youth Matter Commununity Collaborative works to answer that question - and to create and support opportunities for young people to build relationships through community and civic engagement.

Letter from Youth Matter:

A Place for Youth – Here?

The Upper Valley area is beautiful; any kid growing up here should be happy that this amazing place has clean air, snowy mountains, historical buildings, nice restaurants, Pentangle Council on the Arts, the Marsh Billings National Park trails, fresh food markets, etc. – Right?  But kids do an eye-roll when adults say things like this.  After all, what makes adults feel connected to a community is almost always different from what makes kids feel connected to the community.

According to kids who’ve participated in Ottauquechee Community Partnership’s Generations Together discussions and Community Dialogue nights, youth in Woodstock and its surrounding towns have no good, fun, public places to gather together. They don’t feel welcome in the village of Woodstock. They feel like tourists “own” the town more than they do. They say they feel that few adults in town know them or acknowledge them in positive ways. They don’t feel welcome at Vail Field; it’s isolated and is frequently in use for organized activities. They don’t feel welcome on the Green, where they are given the “hairy eyeball” for loitering and causing trouble.

However, there are two places that have floated to the surface recently as supportive, fun, and welcoming for young people: Cumberland Farms (Cumbys, as it is affectionately called) and Maplefields – both located on the far East End of the village. Kids feel comfortable in these places. These two establishments offer affordable snacks and slushies.  The friendly staff don’t hassle them. They are open late. They are a place to go with friends after school, in between school and sports, or late at night after Cosmic Bowling.

 Let’s applaud Cumbys and Maplefields for supporting our community youth by providing them with a place where they feel welcome and grounded in our community.

 Let’s also consider our actions in the future. Have you said hello to a young person you passed on the street recently? Have you smiled as you passed a group of them? Have you introduced yourself when you’ve found yourself selling a young person a soda or sandwich or standing in line behind them at the movies? Our youth are much more important to our community than the tourists who pass through. Let’s show them, by treating them with respect and kindness.

And let’s honor them by finding news ways to support their inclusion in our community.

Nerissa Edwards

Deb Heimann

Daniel Jantos

Laura Power

Meg Seely

Judy Williamson