UPDATE: This event has been postponed.

LEWISTON — The Lewiston Youth Advisory Council will launch its new T.A.L.K positive communication campaign today.

T.A.L.K stands for Treat All Listeners Kindly, and the campaign tag line is “Share Your Perspective, Not Your Attitude.”

LYAC wants to encourage individuals to communicate with others in a respectful manner. Whether the conversation is at school, at home, out in the community, or in political discussions, LYAC Vice Chair Deni Federico notes that it’s important to “talk for the good, listen for the better.”

“Even if you can’t agree on a whole idea, there are always multiple aspects that we all have in common,” LYAC Treasurer Courtney Caouette said.

The campaign originated from a discussion as to the group’s next focus, and ideas kept surfacing around interacting with others or communicating with others. T.A.L.K was the result, and the group has been discussing ways to get their positive communication message out into the community. 

The Lewiston Youth Advisory Council was established by the City Council in 2001 and has been active ever since, recognized locally, statewide and nationally. Projects have ranged from an underage drinking awareness film entitled SMASHED, to celebrating diversity, to siting a multi-level historic timepiece at City Hall, to an anti-bullying campaign.

Current members of the LYAC are Jazy Dumas, chair; Deni Federico, vice chair; Courtney Caouette, treasurer; Khafiya Dualeh, secretary; and members Carolyn Adams, Clare Kramer, Emma Williams and Maggie Elwell. The group’s adviser is Community Relations Coordinator Dottie Perham-Whittier, and its City Council Liaison is Councilor Isobel Golden.

FMI:  www.lewistonmaine.gov/lyac.