As more than 100 guests packed into the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church auditorium for Wilkinsburg Weed and Seed's Youth Speak Out forum, the youth among them did as teens will do when they gather.

They greeted each other enthusiastically and loudly last week. They bounced from table to table, sparking new conversations the instant the previous one ended.

By the time Weed and Seed coordinator Gayle Mitchell Hall kicked off the Aug. 4 forum, her introduction competed with a cacophony of chatter.

"We're trying to have you tell us what you want, what you need, what your concerns are for the community," she called out over the sea of voices.

But once the teens formed groups with adult leaders to discuss community needs and issues, they showed they were there to get down to business.

"We need more people to care, more people to be involved," Kymi Ewing, 17, read from her group's list.

"We need better education, more caring teachers, new books. ..."

"Harder work! I want to be challenged," added Melissa Portis, a 17-year-old Wilkinsburg High School student.

Issues ranging from community pools and beautification, to teen pregnancy and prostitution were raised during the forum, which was co-sponsored by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

It was the second in a series of discussions hosted by Weed and Seed to assess community needs in the past few months. But the major difference with the youth forum is it was designed to launch the emerging Weed and Seed Youth Council, New Wilkinsburg Order.

"I'm 17, I'm young, but this is for all of us," said New Wilkinsburg Order organizer Michael Johnson.

"I know some of you might think your ideas won't count, but this is our thing, we're doing it for the youth."

Ms. Hall said the council would model other Weed and Seed youth councils and organizations from across the region by maintaining a core group of youth members and adult advisers to help form and implement initiatives.

"We're not trying to reinvent the wheel here," she said. "I'm in contact with coordinators from across the state with successful youth organizations. I'm going to meet with them to try to figure out what's best and what will work best here in Wilkinsburg."

The continued participation of community leaders is a key to making the council effective, Ms. Hall said. She said Weed and Seed has already formed a tacit agreement with the Wilkinsburg School District to use school buildings after hours, but needs to partner with other community organizations to see movement on youth issues.

"Some things like drugs and lowering the murder rate are something we could support, but we can't actually eliminate without the support of the police," she said.

Stakeholders and officials -- including police Chief Ophelia Coleman, state Rep. Joe Preston, D-East Liberty, and council members Vanessa McCarthy-Johnson, Pamela Macklin and Michael Lefebvre -- attended the forum. But on a night geared toward youth, they weren't part of the presentation.

But with a New Wilkinsburg Order planning meeting coming up in a few weeks, the opportunity for collaboration remains open.

"We're glad people participated and are coming to develop new initiatives and strategies to improve the quality of life for the residents of Wilkinsburg," Ms. Hall said.

"We want people to know Wilkinsburg is working together. You can tell by [the forum] turnout."

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