Left In Lowell

Here’s all the details about the Lowell city council candidates forum sponsored by UTEC (United Teen Equality Center) - I’ll just quote from their press release:

Lowell Youth Put City Council Candidates to the Test

LOWELL, MA – The United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) will host its second Youth-Led City Councilor Candidate Forum to help voters determine where each candidate stands on the issues that matter to local youth. The forum—the last of this year’s pre-election public forums—will be facilitated by youth volunteers and seeks to spark serious dialogue amongst candidates and community members. The forum will be attended by many first time voters and will be televised by Lowell Telecommunications Corporation (LTC Channel 10).

What: Youth-Led City Councilor Candidate Forum
Where: Wannalancit Mills
When: Thursday, October 27th, 2005 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Why: The needs and concerns of young people are often overlooked or misunderstood by policy-makers. This forum seeks to provide a venue for young people to take center stage in the public dialogue.
Who: Moderator: Davira Kuy (LHS, ’05)
All 18 City Councilor Candidates

“Young people have a lot more power than we think. I might not be able to vote yet—but I can organize. Being involved in democracy isn’t only about voting, it’s also about holding public officials accountable,” says 16 year old Lowell High School student, Jesse Velazquez, lead organizer of the forum and member of UTEC’s M.A.D (Making A Difference) Organizing Project. “That’s why we’re doing this. When I realized how much power city councilors have to create change in our city, I thought that I should get to know who these people are and what they actually stand for!”

“This is our biggest and perhaps most important event of the year,” says Gregg Croteau, Executive Director of the United Teen Equality Center (UTEC). “Getting young people educated, involved and organized around the issues that affect the community is what Lowell youth programs are all about.

Watch LTC or show up in person. UTEC is a most excellent group (as I’ve said before - but don’t let that go to your head, guys!) and the energy and intelligence they bring to politics and activism is amazing.