Youth-conference focuses on teamwork

By Lydia Gibson

Staff Writer

A formation of geese flying overhead is a great example of teamwork, Herb Nieburg told students yesterday at a youth conference at the Jewish Community Center in White Plains.

When the lead bird gets tired, it flies back in the formation and another takes its place. The moral, Nieburg said, is that teamwork is necessary to solve problems -and everyone's role is important.

Teamwork and problem-solving were the themes of the 14th annual youth conference sponsored by the Westchester Children's Association, a nonprofit advocacy group. Nieburg, a psychologist and director of behavioral medicine at Four Winds hospital in Katonah, spoke to more than 250 students attending the conference from schools around the county.

Through games and workshops, teens at the conference learned to come up with solutions to such varied problems as drug abuse and racism.

"Part of their education is to give them the know-how," said

Doris H. Gilbert, vice president of WCA. "By concentrating on solutions, we are moving from a passive to an active role."

A workshop on cultural sensitivity presented by the Children's Village Boys' Council in Dobbs Ferry examined similarities and differences in ethnic backgrounds.

Students were asked to reveal their nationality, the neighborhood where they grew up and any prejudice they may have experienced. They also were asked what they liked and disliked about their ethnic background.

Once these questions were raised, an adult group leader asked the students how they felt after learning everyone's nationality.

Students concluded that there were more similarities than differences.

"The workshop is helpful because you can find out about different ethnic groups without being seared," said 16-year-old Courtney King, a student group leader. "Most people are afraid, and this teaches them to get in a good discussion about ethnic differences."

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