New Haven Independent

Chlamydia is one of several STDs — sexually transmitted diseases — that are rampant among teens and young adults. And the symptoms — discharge, bleeding, burning, abdominal pain — are no walk in the park. The good news is that most people who have it don’t have symptoms. But that’s the bad news, too, since those folks are less likely to get treated and can pass it on.

That table attracted the most staffers and the most visitors at the LEAP fair Friday, but many other tables offered information on a wide range of issues of concern to New Haven youth: family issues and domestic violence, black history and racism, youth in jail, violence and gangs, after-school funding and resources. All the tables were staffed by junior (high school students) or senior (college students) LEAP counselors. Leadership, Education, and Athletic in Partnership (LEAP) is a youth development organization that serves over 300 children and youth citywide.

Alderwoman Bitsie Clark, who chairs the Youth Services Committee for the Board of Aldermen, came down to check out the fair. She stopped at a table labelled “materialism” and a poster that read, “How do you spend your money? Wants versus needs.”

“It’s wonderful,” she said. “These are terrific displays and the engagement of the kids who are showing it to people is tremendous. And they’ve covered everything. They’ve even got this on how do you spend your money, and how do you save your money.”

Renee Brown, a senior at Hillhouse High School, stood behind the table. “A lot of youth in my school and a lot of schools might buy a lot of sneakers or a lot of clothes, but then they might have financial problems, like they don’t know how to save, and when it’s time for prom — because I’m the senior class president — they don’t have money to pay their class dues, but they have sneakers on their feet that cost $100, so why can’t you pay your class dues? So we thought it would be important. Like do you really need the big chains you’re buying? Do you really need all the expensive things you have on, or could you buy something that’s cheaper? So that’s why we have this table.”

Johnny Velasquez, a senior at High School in the Community, explained at the Youth in Jail table that kids 16 and over are treated as adults in the criminal justice system. A game of toss allowed those who stopped by to try to hit a number representing the number of years a young person could end up serving for different crimes. “Then,” he said, “we try to help you make decisions on how to prevent getting into a situation like that.”