News  STRIVE-ing for Greatness

Pittsfield — More than 200 middle school students were taught lessons in diversity, cyberbullying, vaping and other social issues facing teens at the 8th Annual STRIVE Youth Leadership Conference on Thursday.

The 2018-2019 Berkshire District Attorney’s Office Youth Advisory Board hosted the day of leadership and mentoring in the BerkshirePlaza in Pittsfield.  This year’s Board consists of 23 high school seniors and juniors who worked with the DA’s Office throughout the school year to engage Berkshire County youth through education and community service and support them in making healthy choices. STRIVE stands for Students Teaching Respect Integrity, Values and Equality.

Serving as emcees for Thursday's event were Youth Advisory Board members Ashley Barnes, a senior at Lee Middle and High School, and Andrew Sondrini, a senior at Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton.

Ashton Mota, 14, of Lowell, provided a brave keynote address in which he recounted coming out to his mother and school community as transgender two years ago. Mota spoke about the negative comments, bullying and threats that he and others endure in school, which he said made it difficult to learn. He said there was a "pressing need" for others to accept and embrace student members of the LGBTQ community. Despite the challenges, Ashton said that he was happy to be living his authentic self since coming out.

Guest speaker Robert Hackenson Jr. led students through an entertaining presentation about cyberbullying and the appropriate use of communication technology. “With great power comes great responsibility,” he said.

Also, Rebecca White shared her story of surviving a drunk-driving crash that killed her mother and her friend, and offered advice on living with courage and positivity. Natalie Cashin and Danielle Adams discussed “Vaping: Empowering Youth to Address the Vaping Epidemic;” Berkshire Pulse put on “Managing Stress Through Music and Movement;” and the Improbable Players presented “Running on E: Educational Theater Substance Abuse Prevention.”

Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington opened the program. “The STRIVE Conference builds role models and equips our kids with positive reinforcement to support them in achieving their dreams,” she said. The District Attorney thanked educators, speakers, members of the DA’s Community Outreach Program, and sponsors and partners for the event, which is paid for each year through a grant from the Massachusetts Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and U.S. Department of Justice. The DA also introduced each member of the Youth Advisory Board:

Ashley Barnes, senior, Lee Middle & HS

Andrew Sondrini, senior, Wahconah Regional HS

Tyler Bouchard, senior, BART Charter Public School

Alison Felix, junior, Drury High School

Laura Thomas, senior, Drury High School

John Krol, senior, Hoosac Valley High School

William Consolati, senior, Lee Middle & High School

Ali Hochfelder, junior, Lenox Memorial Middle & HS

Emma Marino, senior, McCann Technical School

Vanessa Traversa, junior, McCann Technical School

Hannah Chrzanowski, junior, Miss Hall’s School

Angela Guachione, junior, Miss Hall’s School

Gabriel Davis-Hollander, junior, Monument Mt. Reg. HS

Mae Whaley, senior, Monument Mt. Regional High School

Anna Dupont, senior, Mt. Everett Regional School

Grayson Duval, junior, Mt. Everett Regional School

Daniel Buell, senior, Mt. Greylock Regional High School

Elizabeth Paglier, senior, Mt. Greylock Regional HS

Hannah Berkel, senior, Pittsfield HS

Sarah McMahon, senior, Pittsfield High School

Jaylin LaCasse, junior, Taconic High School

Joannda Loftus, senior, Taconic High School

Amanda Drager, junior, Wahconah Regional High School