SALEM – Young people who care about the future of Maine gathered at University of Maine in Orono to discuss the issue of “youth migration” as part of Gov. John Baldacci’s REALIZE!Maine program.

The program, established to deal with the issue, hosted the youth summit to give young people a forum to tell their stories and voice their concerns.

According to REALIZE!Maine’s Web site, there was a 22 percent decline among the population of 20- to 34-year-olds between 1990 and 2000 with some towns closer to 40 percent.

Kirsten K. Brown, program coordinator for Pathway Partners based at Mt. Abram High School, was invited to attend the summit. Brown’s organization provides programs for youth in the SAD 58 area to raise aspirations, skills and attitudes of young people in order to create a brighter future for communities and the economy, according to its Web site.

In a telephone interview, Brown described her experience at the conference.

The purpose of the gathering was to devise recommendations for the governor to create and develop strategies for attracting and retaining young people, she said.

It was held in an open setting with small groups discussing issues such as higher education opportunities, affordable health care, technology in Maine, workers compensation issues, mentoring in schools, the environment, arts and culture, and creative business economies.

At the end of the day, the groups left the governor and his staff with recommendations to consider.

Brown, 36, and a native of Kingfield, said she almost had to leave Maine herself to pursue a graduate degree but found a program at the University of New England. She recently received her master of science in education from there.

In addition to opportunities in higher education, Brown is concerned about balancing economic growth with maintaining Maine’s quality of life.

“That’s my exact concern,” she said, “that Maine is going to change if business booms.”

She said she and the people in her discussion group felt that the key is balancing the state’s environmental assets with a thriving business economy.

Brown was invited along with 300 others to participate in the summit.

She estimates that about 200 came, some from as far away as California.

Brown said she left the conference with much greater awareness of others’ perspectives.

“It provided me with great information and great insight as to what Maine is going to be,” she said.

The REALIZE!Maine Web site has a chat room for people to discuss the issues. The Web address is www.realizemaine.org

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