PRESS RELEASE

CINCINNATI – The youth of Hamilton County have spoken: The future of the county is important and they want to participate in planning it.

A total of 165 high school students from 31 Hamilton County high schools are meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 9 at Paul Brown Stadium to discuss their concerns for the county and their ideas for the future. The Youth Forum is one of 12 Community Forums taking place throughout Hamilton County from Oct. 9-18 as the county works to develop a long-range plan that reflects the thoughts of its citizens. Both public and private high schools are participating in the Youth Forum.

“I’m pleased that high schools recognize the educational and civic value of this inclusive planning process,” said Jim Wuenker, co-chair of the Community COMPASS Steering Team. “Our children are our future, and to see so many interested students means that our future is in good hands.”

Every high school in Hamilton County was invited to participate in the event. Of the 56 schools invited, 30 are taking part in the Youth Forum. The schools attending are: Aiken High School, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Clark Montessori, Dater School, Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development, Elder High School, Hillcrest Training School, Hughes High School, Indian Hill High School, Lighthouse Community School, Mariemont High School, Moeller High School, Mother of Mercy High School, Mt. Healthy High School, Mt. Notre Dame High School, Northwest High School, Norwood High School, Oak Hills High School, Princeton High School, Reading Jr./Sr. High School, St. Ursula Academy, Scarlet Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development, School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Seven Hills High School, Sycamore High School, Taft  High School, Ursuline Academy, Walnut Hills High School, Western Hills High School, Winton Woods High School and Withrow High School.

First year graduate students from the Planning Department at the University of Cincinnati are facilitating the break out groups at the Youth Forum. Professional facilitators and representatives from the consulting firm ACP Visioning and Planning will train the graduate students in their role as group discussion leaders.

The Youth Forum is part of Community COMPASS, a countywide effort by the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission to bring together all interested groups to plan for the future of the county.  At the Youth Forum, trained facilitators will separate students into small groups for a focused, intimate discussion. Student input will be combined with feedback from the other Community Forums and prioritized in a Countywide Town Meeting on Jan. 12.

“This is a great opportunity for students to make a difference in their community for generations to come,” Jim Wuenker said. “We take very seriously the voice of our youth, and their promise in a future that belongs to all of us.”

Community Forum Schedule

• Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Scarlet Oaks Vocational School Auditorium, 3254 East Kemper Road, Sharonville

• Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Colerain High School Auditorium, 8801 Cheviot Road, Colerain
• Thursday, Oct. 11, at William Henry Harrison High School Auditorium, 9860 West Road, Harrison
• 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Taft High School, 420 Ezzard Charles Drive, Cincinnati
• Monday, Oct. 15, at Carson School, 4323 Glenway Ave., Cincinnati
• Monday, Oct. 15, at Woodward High School Auditorium, 7001 Reading Road, Cincinnati
• Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Sycamore High School Auditorium, 7400 Cornell Road, Montgomery
• Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Mariemont High School Auditorium, 3812 Pocahontas Ave., Mariemont
• Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Withrow High School Auditorium, 2488 Madison Road, Cincinnati
• Thursday, Oct. 18 at Oak Hills High School, 3200 Ebenezer Road, Bridgetown
• Thursday, Oct. 18, at Aiken High School Auditorium, 5641 Belmont Ave., College Hill

*Unless otherwise noted, all Community Forums will run from 7 to 9 p.m.

Countywide Town Meeting

The Countywide Town Meeting will involve 1,000 residents in analyzing and prioritizing key issues identified in the Community Forums. The Countywide Town Meeting will use a unique blend of conversation and technology, and will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 12, 2002, at Music Hall.

For more information about Community COMPASS, please visit www.communitycompass.org on the Web or call the information hotline 946-4505.