The following people from all walks of life are enthusiastic supporters of Teen Think Tanks. Some have embraced the concept from the beginning. Dr. Pat Odom was a observer at the first Teen Think Tank in July, 1998. Alabama State Senator Ted Little and Alabama Assistant Attorney General Maury Mitchell, have used a Teen Think Tank to gather information for a statewide legislative agenda on teen violence.
Congressman Bud Cramer (D), Alabama, included one of the Teen Think Tank reports as baseline material in the President's Summit on Youth Violence. Senator Jeff Sessions(R), Alabama, Chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Youth Violence, has endorsed the work of Teen Think Tanks of America, Inc and continues to provide assistance and encouragement in our efforts to obtain financial support for our project.
Mayors Loretta Spencer and Jan Wells have promoted and participated in Teen Think Tanks in their communities.
Drs Jay Nunamaker and Bob Briggs were instrumental in the development of the collaberation software now known as GroupSystems. Early on, they saw the wisdom and potential of using high-tech software to work with teenagers. Scott Edelman, CEO of GroupSystems.com has graciously given us a license to use his software for this project.
Anne Isbell, of the Community Mediation Foundation, and Carl Stewart, a professional counselor working primarily with teens, have assisted in the development of plans for the Teen Empowerment concept.
Click on each of the names to see excerpts from letters of endorsement and recommendation from each of the individuals below.
Senator Jeff Sessions (R) Alabama
Congressman Bud Cramer, (D) Alabama
Bill Pryor, Alabama Attorney General
Loretta Spencer, Mayor of Huntsville, Huntsville
Jan Wells, Mayor of Madison, Alabama
Senator Ted Little, Chairman, Alabama Joint Interim Legislative
Committee on School Violence
Pat Odom, Ph. D., University of Alabama Huntsville, Huntsville,
AL.
Jay Nunamaker, Ph.D., Regents Professor, CMI, University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Anne Isbell, Executive Director, Community Mediation
Foundation, Huntsville, AL
Carl Stewart, Counselor, Trinity Counseling Service,
Huntsville, Alabama
Scott Edelman, CEO, GroupSystems.com, Tucson, Arizona
Robert O. Briggs, Ph.D., Director of Methodology, GroupSystems.com,
Tucson, Arizona
Susan Nurre, Publisher, The Facilitator, Dallas, Texas
Brian R. Boer, President Collaborative Management Services,
Inc. San Ramon, CA
Jane Dow, Chairperson, Madison Community Action Team
(M-CAT), Huntsville, Alabama
Bill Armistead, State Senator representing Shelby County
in Alabama Legislature
"As a facilitator of adult workshops, and as a firsthand observer of
the Teen Think Tank process, I believe it is the best and most innovative
way to listen to the collective voice of teens on any subject - especially
the current violence in schools issue. I applaud and fully support the
important work of Teen Think Tanks of America."
- - - Pat Odom, Ph. D., University of Alabama Huntsville, Huntsville,
AL.
"I give my full support to the Teen Think Tank on School Violence program.
It is a great asset to our schools and community. It demonstrates how the
community and students are working together to put an end to acts of violence
in our school systems. This program is an effective tool for our tomorrow."
- - - Congressman Bud Cramer, (D-AL)
“I believe the Teen Think Tank on School Violence Program, developed
and initiated by Brice Marsh and Rod Peeks, is truly a unique idea that
will give our youth an opportunity to participate in the debate regarding
violence in our schools. It is important that we consider all available
information as we attempt to address this problem and the Teen Think Tank
on School Violence Program should prove to be an invaluable resource.”
- - - Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Chairman, U.S. Senate subcommittee
on Youth Violence
"Hundreds of teenagers from a number of states have proved that the
Teen Think Tank concept is an effective tool for preventing violence in
our public schools. I am proud that this innovative approach to electronic
collaboration for teenagers was conceived and launched here in Alabama."
- - - Bill Pryor, Alabama Attorney General
“I applaud the efforts of Teen Think Tanks of America, Inc. for taking
a proactive approach and actively working to combat one of the most perplexing
issues facing youth today: violence.”
- - - Loretta Spencer, Mayor of Huntsville
“Our teens have many valuable ideas concerning the pressing issues of
today. The Teen Think Tank concept is a wonderful way for them to speak
and be heard. I congratulate Brice Marsh (a resident of Madison, by the
way) for his role in developing the Teen Think Tanks of America. I encourage
teens everywhere to take advantage of this exciting collaborative technology.”
- - - Jan Wells, Mayor of Madison, Alabama
"The final report of findings by the Joint Interim Legislative Committee
on School Violence contains significant information for the prevention
of school violence in Alabama. A most important part of this report was
produced by the Teen Think Tank in Huntsville and their input on matters
regarding school violence."
- - - Senator Ted Little, Chairman, Alabama Joint Interim Legislative
Committee on School Violence
"Teen Think Tanks of America is a new and innovative way to give teens
a voice in developing methods of preventing youth violence."
- - - Anne Isbell, Executive Director, Community Mediation Foundation
“Violence is a way of gaining power and influence. Teen Think Tanks
provide an effective and proactive tool, empowering our kids to generate
solutions to their own problems. We need to learn to listen to them.”
- - - Carl Stewart, Counselor, Trinity Counseling Service, Huntsville,
Alabama
"The Teen Think Tanks of America gives teenagers a voice to present
new perspectives on important issues. It also gets them working together
on an action plan that they all can support enthusiastically.”
- - - Jay Nunamaker, Ph.D., Regents Professor, CMI, University of Arizona,
Tucson, Arizona
“The TeenThinkTanks process gives decision makers an unprecedented glimpse
into the minds of the stakeholders who are closest to the problem: the
kids. It focuses the teens on cause-and-effect, and on how they personally
can take action to stem the violence.”
- - - Robert O. Briggs, Ph.D., Director of Methodology, GroupSystems.com,
Tucson, Arizona
“It's exciting to see the impact of the Teen Think Tanks on adults.
As the teens participate, you can see the interest, and sometimes amazement,
on the faces of these adults as they read the results scrolling across
the screen. What a valuable tool for educators and parents alike!”
- - - Susan Nurre, Publisher, The Facilitator, Dallas, Texas (http://www.TheFacilitator.com)
"Give teens a chance and they'll amaze and impress you with their observations,
insights and suggestions."
- - - Brian R. Boer, President, Collaborative Management Services,
Inc., San Ramon, CA (www.CMSI-Web.com)
“GroupSystems.com is pleased to be counted among the sponsors of this
worthwhile activity. We provided our software in the firm expectation that
this approach can cause positive change.”
- - - Scott Edelman, CEO, GroupSystems.com, Tucson, Arizona (http://www.groupsystems.com)
The teen think tank is a way to enable teens to effectively and openly
address issues that concern them. The information obtained in the recent
teen think tank for the M-CAT's project: teen center, will help plan a
teen center that will be safe, acceptable, fun, and affordable for the
teens of Madison County and the surrounding areas.
- - - Jane Dow, Chairperson, Madison Community Action Team (M-CAT),
Huntsville, Alabama
"Teen Think Tanks of America, Inc. provides an effective and constructive
outlet for teens to share their views and feelings regarding school violence.
The violence in schools which we have most recently observed can be devastating
emotionally to our young people and an outlet such as Teen Think Tanks
can relieve much of the anxiety caused by these incidents while providing
insights into how best to curb this violence."
- - - Sen. Bill Armistead, Alabama Legislature
Giving Teens a Voice!
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