The St. Louis Gateway Classic recently held its 2013 Young Professionals Board Teen Summit at Washington University. The summit brought together students from public and private schools in Illinois and Missouri to explore social issues in a sit-down setting.
“We talked about politics, school, accreditation, poverty and violence,” said Ashley Whisenton, vice president of the Gateway Classic Young Professionals Board. “They didn’t want to leave the conversation once we started.”
She said that students were particularly concerned about what brings crime to their neighborhoods and how they can change it.
The students also attended workshops, sponsored by area organizations, designed to teach responsibility, such as Dollars and Sense (US Bank), Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyle Choices (BJC), Volunteerism (YMCA), Financial Aid (Cardinal Ritter), College 101 (St. Louis Graduates) and Landing the Perfect Internship (St. Louis Internship Program).
State Rep. Courtney Curtis (D – 73rd District) said the students “showed passion” and “were engaged” at the workshops he observed. He was impressed that students “shared personal experiences among the sessions.”
“This is a great experience that engaged the students,” he said.
This year’s event reached 115 students and 42 parents. Jessica Denham, treasurer of the Gateway Classic Young Professionals, said she hopes that next year’s summit will reach even more students and families. Parents, chaperones and group leaders are welcome to attend sessions next year with their students.
For more information, visit http://www.stlgatewayclassic.org/ or call 314-621-1994.
