Youth Stock Rocks Brookhaven

In the heart of the Sachem Central School District, the Brookhaven Amphitheater in Farmingville was filled with ecstatic, gifted students, eager to demonstrate their talents and skills at Youth Stock 2010. 

Teens allowed themselves to explore their artistic side and learn how to get involved with their community on the cloud free, beautiful spring day. The event was sponsored by The Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau and Brookhaven Arts and Humanities Council along with many youth agencies across the island such as Sachem Community Youth Services (Sachem CYS) in acknowledgment with Global Youth Service Day.  

An event for the youth to indulge in activities that involve their talents and interests, teens were able to display their passions and enjoy those of others. Activities included live music, skateboarding and BMX (bicycle motocross), fun inflatable's, information fair, paintball, and an art gallery. 

Local businesses, such as Cousins Paintball and popular Sachem hangout, Ralph's Italian Ices agreed to be present and proceeds from the day were given to Brookhaven Women's and Youth Services.  

"Everybody always focuses on all the negative stuff that the youth are doing these days," said Brian Moreira, 17, a member of YMCA of Shirley. "If you focus too much on that, then that seems like that's all there is. There are a lot of positives that the youth are doing."

With a turnout of 200 people within the first hour of the event, local bands began to perform and teenagers showed their interest in attending an event organized directly for them.

Donna Napoli, Assistant Director of the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau, displayed her passion and faith in the youth by giving an opening speech to all attendees.

"[The idea] came from some youth people," she said. " They said, 'how about we show off what kids are already doing' because they never get any attention."  Youth groups from across the island came together to organize the event. Each individual youth group was assigned an area to organize and prepare. 

"Sachem Community Youth Services has been working on the media end of it, promoting, talking to different media outlets and organizations, to get people at the event," Michelle Morris, member of Sachem CYS said. "We think it's a good event and think it will go on each year."

Councilwoman Constance Kepert believes Youth Stock should be a semi-annual event.  As a civic leader, she organized shows at Longwood High School for the students to showcase their talents. Kepert believes this is a positive event for the youth and will vote yes for Youth Stock to happen again. 

Volunteer, Jackie Paduano, a member of North Shore Youth Council of Rocky Point, believes it is realistic of Youth Stock becoming an annual event because of the donations and proceeds from local businesses. She thinks it should be because it has, "a bunch of cool things for kids to do."