New directions for young energy

MILFORD — Entirely conceived and led by local young people under 24, the Pike County Youth Coalition (PCYC) hosted a launch dinner for community and business leaders on Sunday, June 8. The mission of the non-profit youth advocacy organization is “to educate the community about youth issues, serve as a resource for young people, and encourage greater youth volunteerism and civic engagement.” The PCYC was founded in December, 2007 by students and graduates of Delaware Valley High School. At the launch, “Investing in Our Future,” the newly elected leadership of the PCYC told the forty-member audience at the Muir House Restaurant in Milford how the organization seeks to improve the community. Those in attendance included Representative John Siptroth and Congressional candidate Chris Hackett. “We used this opportunity not only to get the word out to the community about ourselves, but also to showcase the incredible youth talent that surrounds us in Pike County,” said Sam Dutkus, 19, Chairlady of the organization’s Board of Directors. Local chef Brandon Grimila, 16, prepared the three-course dinner for the crowd. Guests were entertained with performances by members of the Delaware Valley High School orchestra and jazz band. Even the decorations and artwork were completed by talented young artists. Event organizers raised over $1600 from donors in attendance. PCYC Executive Director Nick Troiano, 19, told those in attendance that, “we know better than anyone else what it is like to be young citizens of Pike County, and what it will take to solve the problems at hand.” Troiano discussed the lack of things for young people to do for fun in the area and the difficulty in finding part-time employment during summers and after school. He also mentioned that retaining our community’s brightest and most talented youths after high school and college graduation should be a priority. Providing a united and organized youth voice was highlighted by Dutkus, who noted that the youth demographic makes up an entire third of the county population. The Coalition already has roughly fifty dues-paying members and also seeks to increase civic engagement and volunteerism among young people, in part by harnessing the power of modern technologies and online social networking. Potential initiatives being worked on include an after-school volunteerism program and a job and internship database. The PCYC has briefed various local officials and such organizations as United Way, Chamber of Commerce, and Interagency Council about its plans for the Pike County community. According to Board Member Ryan Jameson, 18, the organization’s projects and initiatives will “benefit the short-term interests of young people, and also the long-term interests of the community as a whole.” “We don’t need a fancy degree; we don’t have to carry a briefcase; we don’t need to be elected, and we certainly don’t have to be grown up, to make a difference,” Troiano said. The Pike County Youth Coalition holds monthly meetings at Matamoras Borough Hall that are open to the public. The organization urges anyone interested in receiving more information, making a tax-deductible donation, or becoming involved to visit its Web site, www.pikeyouth.org.