The Western New York Network of English Teachers and the Buffalo State College English Education program present the Youth Voices Conference, an annual celebration of the remarkable stories and talents of middle and high school students from across our region.
The series, now in its sixth year, seeks to reclaim space for the voices of youth and their teachers, and to reposition classrooms as learning spaces of meaning, purpose, and power in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
Student presentations at the Youth Voices have included short documentary style films, spoken word poetry and TED Talks based on classroom projects. Past presentations have featured student work exploring childhood and families, popular music, islamophobia, the impact of genocide, identity and immigration, race and gender, the environment, and religious beliefs, among others. The conference gives young people the opportunity to showcase their thoughts, beliefs, and ideas about issues that are important to them and the larger community in which they live. Youth Voices is the only student-centered conference that brings young people together from across our region to share the work they are doing in their classrooms. There will be over 50 presentations from students across our region including students from Buffalo Public Schools, Cheektowaga Central, Elmwood Village Charter School, Health Science Charter School, Global Concepts Charter School, Niagara Wheatfield, Maritime Charter School, Tapestry Charter School, John F. Kennedy Middle School, Sweet Home Middle School, and Williamsville South. This is an opportunity to celebrate the important work the young people of our region are engaging and the teachers that are committed to them.
