Fifth peace conference Saturday

By Andrew Firestone

Inside the old fire station turned Teen Empowerment’s new headquarters on Broadway, Somerville teens are working together, creating a compelling and soulful show for this year’s fifth annual Peace Conference.

Coming together, these young artists craft original melodies and rapturous lyrical performances in hopes of building a community for them and their peers.

“This whole Peace Conference is all about change, and we just need people to reach out and just grab it,” said Caitlin Demedeiros of Somerville High. This year, the troop of talented youths is putting together “Villen Diaries” in hopes of sharing the stories of their culture and their lives.

The result promises to be like nothing seen in Somerville before, said Teen Empowerment intern Sergio Estany. “This year is going to be a new stepping stone for the conference,” said Estany. “Last year we tried to shoot for 800 [people in attendance].  This year we’re going to push harder and get more people there to hear the Peace Conference and see the performances that all the kids have for the city and the community.”

The Somerville teens have been working hard to craft soulful tunes, inspired to break out of the apathy and isolation that can claim so many youth.

“Whether or not they can relate to it, it depends on the person it is,” said Estany’s younger sister Sassiane, of St. Clements. “But usually when you tell your story to someone they feel more open about it. It’s like, once you hear the story it’s like ‘wow, I go through this so I guess we could do this, we could make a change. I’m no the only one who thinks this, there’s other people who think it too.’”

Sassiane says that songwriting comes organically to her, and she tries to inspire a better community through singing her poetry. “It all starts with the communication because if you don’t have the communication you don’t have anything.”

One person who she helped inspire is fellow St. Clement student Jonathan Flores, who attended last year’s performance and was amazed at its beauty. “One day Sassie asked me, ‘you’re not shy playing in front of a bunch of people are you?’ I said ‘no’.”

No, ready to perform in only a few days, Flores is illuminated by his experience. “It actually is kind of life-changing for me, it’s a pretty special event in my life,” he said.

Another performer is Somerville High School’s own Nick Angelesco, who hopes to use his experience to influence others in his smooth lyricist style. “I don’t really talk to my mother a lot. She left; she comes in and out of my life. My father’s in jail,” he said.

“It’s a lot of powerful things. I want everyone to see where I’m coming from and for them to know everybody has a heart. Coming up from how I did, if you can turn yourself around and make a change, everyone can do it,” he said.

Estany, having been involved for several years with Teen Empowerment says he’s proud of how the Peace Conference has evolved, and can’t wait to touch other people’s lives. “People lose touch about the community and how we should each other help each other just to make it better. Everybody complains about it and nobody wants to do about it,” he said.

“If we help the kids now, maybe down the road they can do something and help the city and itself.”

The Fifth Annual Peace Conference will be held at Somerville High School April 16, beginning at 11:30 AM. Tickets are $3, and all are encouraged to attend.