YOUTH, POLICE HASH IT OUT
Speak Out Regina event opens new lines of communication
Students from all across Regina gathered Wednesday to find solutions for some of the issues they’re facing every day.
Chelsea Almojuela, a Grade 12 student, was one of the 80 attending the Speak Out Regina youth forum at the Campus Regina Public.
She said she was excited to be there and share her ideas on how to make schools in the city better.
“The school is a really safe place,” she said. “It’s actually fun and more studying and pursuing your goals or dreams in your life.”
Still, she admits she has seen bullying take place at her school and it isn’t always a stress- free place.
“Right now I’m experiencing pressure because I’m going to university ( and applying),” she said.
Students were given an opportunity to ask questions to representatives from the city, province, school boards and police.
Students bravely approached a microphone in a room full of their peers to ask questions such as: “How are schools planning to explore self- identity and help students feel more comfortable with themselves?” and “How are schools dealing with gangs?”
Some students raised concerns over how some schools had better reputations than others, while others wanted to know what was being done to help students with mental illnesses.
“It’s a wide variety ( of issues), and it’s amazing the kind of things the kids come up with,” said Laurie Norman, president of Regina Crime Stoppers. “It gives us an opportunity to learn from the young people in our community about what truly matters to them.”
It was obvious many students welcomed a conversation with decision- makers that flowed both ways. Students spoke of their own experiences and weren’t shy about asking followup questions.
Const. Andi Costanza, a Regina Police Service school resource officer, said she wanted to show students she can be someone they can trust.
“We’d like to develop this relationship to alleviate any anxiety or fear that students or youth would have to contact us,” she said.
Working in a high school, Costanza said students are usually grateful she is there.
“We can work a little bit with them and help them develop some kind of knowledge base that they can go out and make change for the community now,” she said.
She said mental illness, drug issues and cyber- bullying are some common issues coming up in schools today.
Costanza said it offers an opportunity to bring a diverse group of students together to share their experiences.
It’s a wide variety ( of issues), and it’s amazing the kind of things the kids come up with.