Community Leader’s Breakfast

by | Dec 6, 2017 | Community Partners, Events

On Friday, December 1, over 30 community leaders from Amesbury, Georgetown, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley and Salisbury came together at the Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury to show their support for youth in their communities.  As part of the continued launch of the Essex County Asset Builder Network, leaders were invited to learn about the positive youth development approach,the 40 Developmental Assets® and how they can build assets for youth.  The hope is that leaders, legislators, and policymakers can learn about the positive youth development approach and start using a shared language and approach to decision making that will build youth voice in the community.  “The grant aims to start a culture shift around prevention from youth having problems that adults need to fix, to adults seeing youth as resources,” explained Andrea Egmont, Director, Newburyport Youth Services.  “Having leaders who can set an example and lead the way for their communities is one of the ways we can start this shift.”

Some of the leaders who attended the breakfast include (from left to right) Tina Los, Regional Project Coordinator, Andrea Egmont, Director Newburyport Youth Services, Matt Bazenas, Newburyport Youth, Mayor Donna Holaday, Newburyport, Representative Leonard Mirra, Representative Brad Hill, Representative Jim Kelcourse

If you would like to see the presentation and learn more about positive youth development and how you can build assets, you can watch the video below.

Next steps include offering FREE trainings to individuals, and organizations who want to learn more about how they can adopt a positive youth development approach.  Trainings are customizable for audience, time and topic.  Potential topics include an overview of a positive youth development approach, how to identify assets currently being built, to design programs that build assets with intention, incorporate the asset model into your current work or how to create youth-adult partnerships.

If you are interested in setting up a training for your group or organization please contact Tina Los (tlos@cityofnewburyport.com | 978-992-1671).

The 40 Developmental Assets® may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only. Copyright © 1997 Search Institute®, 615 First Avenue NE, Suite 125, Minneapolis, MN 55413; 800-888-7828; www.search-institute.org. All rights reserved.

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About Us The Essex County Asset Builder (ECAB) Network creates regional connections and supports for individuals, families and organizations from Amesbury, Georgetown, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury and Newburyport, in using a positive youth development approach to help youth thrive. Positive Youth Development Being a part of the ECAB Network brings local and regional opportunities.  Locally, communities have access to trainings, data, and best practices, and receive guidance on implementation and outreach strategies that build positive youth development possibilities.  Communities also get the benefit of regionalizing efforts, where networking, combining resources, current policies, and a shared vision strengthen the towns and cities as well as the region. History Recently, the communities of Amesbury, Georgetown, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury and Newburyport came together to form the Essex County Asset Builder Network.  Funded by a three year grant, the goal of this Network is to create a common language of asset- based youth development (creating protective factors). It has been shown that youth who have more assets are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.  This grant will use the 40 Developmental Assets framework to build these protective factors and reduce risk behaviors by focusing on both the youth and the environment that shapes them. The community partnership will enhance the great work already being done to support youth and families, as well as expand community supports, opportunities, and resources. Additionally, the grant will collect and disseminate regional data, coordinate shared resources and bring educational opportunities for various sectors of the community. Goal To spread the philosophy and practice of the positive youth development approach through implementation of 40 Developmental Asset framework within communities across the region. We will accomplish this goal by: Mission To use a positive youth development approach to build networks within each community and across the region that help decrease risk behaviors in youth and produce a healthier community. Vision A network of communities that welcome, value and empower youth through meaningful opportunities and collaborative efforts to support and strengthen youth assets and increase healthy decision making.