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By Bill Van Tassel
Staff Writer
LEWISTON — After several storm delays the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council unveiled its new, positive communication program. Four LYAC members held a presentation of T.A.L.K. in the Lewiston City Hall Council Chambers Feb. 21. T.A.L.K. is an acronym for Treat All Listeners Kindly. Each council member took a few moments to share desires and goals for the program.
LYAC chairwoman Jazy Dumas told those gathered in the Council Chambers that the idea for T.A.L.K. arose because of the current trends like “hate talk,” found on Facebook and Twitter. She suggested people are using these outlets to “share their attitudes more than their perspectives.” She and her peers have not missed the often-disrespectful political discussions during this past election year. Dumas added, “We want people to think more about what they’re going to say.”
Lewiston High School student Carolyn Adams said, while noting the “gifts” of the first amendment and the ability to communicate, “We sometimes use this in a disrespectful way. Rather than attack, we should learn from situations with family, friends and coworkers with an open mind.” Fellow member Emma William shared she did not like having to “feel embarrassed when talking with people.”
Clare Kramer unveiled the T.A.L.K. poster featuring a photo of a busy, city street and including the T.A.L.K. message — Treat All Listeners Kindly.
After each of the four young women completed her part of the presentation, chairwoman Jazzy Dumas concluded by reaffirming the over-arching idea, “We just want people to wait a little before speaking; think more about what they’re going to say.”
In addition to a public workshop slated for March 9, the LYAC plans to put out T.A.L.K. posters and bumper stickers in the community, including the schools as well as an elementary school contest for artwork showing positive communication.
Several members of the city administration, school committee, a representative of the Somali immigrant community and Community Relations Coordinator and LYAC Adviser Dottie Perham-Whittier.
