Millennials participated in a round table discussion sponsored by Senator Mike Rodrigues this week. The event was held at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as part of a statewide series. The audience age ranged from 18 to 35 year olds. Senator Rodrigues wanted to have the discussion with the city’s young people to determine their needs and desires in an effort to keep them living and working in Fall River.
One big issue was the lack of life skills learning in the city’s school system.
Participant 17-year-old Durfee High School senior Allisan Paes stated: “The educational system right now has really let me down as a student, where I don’t know how to do my taxes. I have no idea how to pay my bills. We don’t have a class to teach me that,” she said.
Mayor Jasiel Correia, himself just 24, echoed Paes sentiments. “Going through school, I wasn’t taught how to do my taxes (either). I wasn’t taught how to balance a checkbook. A lot of the financial literacy piece I could absolutely relate to,” he said.
Other concerns addressed by attendees included transportation both within the city and connecting Fall River to Boston, and family support, including minimum wage, family leave, and housing standards.
“There were so many people that spoke so well, and so articulately stated what we are facing, and if you notice, there was a lot of unity between our issues. I feel as more young people kind of come together and unite on these issues, they have to listen to us,” said Sean Connell, a 27-year-old employee of YouthBuild who addressed standardized testing and LGBTQ legislation.
The event was attended by approximately fifty millennials from the Greater Fall River area.
Article Submitted by Angie Hilsman
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