By David Taylor / Managing Editor
In a groundbreaking effort to address the challenges faced by the youth in the community, local leaders, educators, and service providers gathered at the first-ever Symposium on Youth Development. The event, held in collaboration with Aldine ISD, Baker Ripley, Lone Star College, Harris County Precinct 2, and the Harris County Department of Education, aimed to foster dialogue and develop actionable steps to support the younger generation.
“This is the first symposium on youth development that we initiated,” said Richard Cantu, executive director for the East Aldine Management District.
“We wanted to talk and hear about the data, about how our kids are doing, what they’re doing well, and what they need to improve on.”
The symposium brought together various stakeholders, including schools, service providers, and experts in education, to discuss the state of the youth and explore ways to enhance their development both in and out of school. The event highlighted the importance of community collaboration in creating a supportive environment for young people.
“The better our youth do, the better and more successful our future will be,” Cantu said. “It’s about working together and using all the resources available in the community.”
The discussions at the symposium were driven by data presented by Children at Risk, which shed light on the current state of the youth, including their academic achievements and areas needing improvement. The data revealed that while many children are resilient and creative, there are still significant gaps in performance and unmet needs in social and emotional learning.
“There are so many people in this community that have it unimaginably worse than I have ever had,” said Roman Paredes, MacArthur High School graduate and an Aldine Votes Alumni. “I have struggled, but there are some people who have it so much worse than me and probably have it worse than I ever will.”
His words rang loud and clear to constituents at the symposium seeking understanding and solutions.
“Our families are struggling, and we are a lower middle-income community with more barriers and obstacles,” noted Lisa Caruthers, senior director of the Harris County Department of Education After School division, which is called CASE For Kids. “There are pressures for the kids to help the family make money, and sometimes that’s the main reason why kids drop out of school.”
The symposium also addressed the role of after-school programs and community centers in providing safe and enriching experiences for the youth. These programs, often run by nonprofit organizations, offer mentorship, tutoring, arts, sports, and other opportunities that help young people develop essential skills.
“These organizations are cornerstones of youth development, but they are not immune to rising costs, staff shortages, and the growing demand for services,” Caruthers said. “They need concrete support, funding, volunteers, partnerships, and advocacy to continue lifting up our children.”
One of the key takeaways from the symposium was the need for coordinated action and collaboration among various sectors. The participants emphasized the importance of creating robust networks of service providers and ensuring that resources are equitably distributed to the neighborhoods that need them the most.
“We have many, if not all, of the pieces of the puzzle here in this room,” Cantu said. “Sound data, dedicated educators, innovative nonprofits, supportive local governments, and robust county-wide networks all play essential roles.”
The symposium concluded with a call to action from Cantu, urging the community to come together and make youth development a defining feature of their efforts. The organizers announced plans to follow up with a youth conference next Friday night and a summit to engage policymakers and elected officials in making commitments to support the youth.
“We must seize this moment and unify, innovate, and invest in the future of our youth,” Cantu said.
“By ensuring our youth’s success, we secure our own and our community’s future.”
The event was a significant step towards building a brighter future for the youth in the community, highlighting the power of collaboration and the collective responsibility to nurture and empower the next generation.
