The B.A.T.E.S. Youth Conference returned to SUNY Downstate for an inspiring day of youth leadership, culture, health education, creativity, and community connection.

Centered around the theme “Back to Your Roots,” the conference encouraged young people to reflect on where they come from, recognize the power of their identities, and begin intentionally creating the futures they want to see.

Founded in 1992 by the late Christine Rucker, the Brooklyn Association of Teen Educators (B.A.T.E.S.) is a network of adolescent peer leaders committed to improving the lives of young people throughout New York City. The Adolescent Education Program (AEP) at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University serves as the network’s lead organization. 

Throughout the day, participants experienced wellness activities, youth performances, cultural programming, workshops, a Youth HIV Awareness Fashion Show and theatre presentations, alongside powerful messages from keynote and motivational speakers. 

Dr. Yusef Salaam: “If You Can’t See It, You Can’t Be It”

New York City Council Member Dr. Yusef Salaam delivered the conference keynote, sharing his extraordinary journey from being wrongfully convicted as a teenager as one of the Exonerated Five to becoming an author, advocate, and elected leader. 

Speaking directly to the young people in the room, Salaam challenged them to think beyond five- and ten-year plans and recognize the importance of participating in the decisions that shape their communities and their future.

“They’re counting on us not to participate.”

Drawing from his own experiences, he spoke candidly about incarceration, resilience, justice and the importance of refusing to allow other people’s words or expectations to define who you become.

One of his strongest messages focused on visualization and creating a vision for success.

“If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”

Salaam encouraged young people to create vision boards, imagine themselves graduating, building careers, owning homes and accomplishing goals that may feel far away today.

He reminded the audience that difficult experiences can become part of a larger story of growth and transformation.

Sharing the image of life as a blank canvas shaped by the people and experiences we encounter, he left young people with a question:

“Just another painting? Or a masterpiece?”

His own journey offered a powerful example.

“Going from being rejected to selected was elected.”

Alishia Goodridge: Know Who You Are and Own What Makes You Different

Motivational speaker Alishia Goodridge, MLS, MBA, Assistant Vice President for Government and Community Relations at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, continued the conversation with a deeply personal message about identity, purpose, relationships and finding your own path.

A Brooklyn native with Caribbean and Southern roots, Goodridge described returning to serve the same SUNY Downstate community where she was born as a powerful full-circle moment. 

She encouraged young people not to wait for someone else to tell them where they belong or what opportunities they should pursue.

Describing herself as a “silo breaker,” Goodridge spoke about the importance of bringing people together, building relationships and recognizing the value of your own perspective.

“Whatever your opinion is, it actually does matter.”

She also reminded participants that success is not always about money. Sometimes the most valuable opportunity is a relationship, a connection, a mentor or simply being in a room where someone recognizes your potential.

“We all want to be seen, to be heard and to be understood.”

Goodridge also honored the late Christine Rucker, asking attendees to pause for a moment of silence and reminding the audience that the responsibility now belongs to a new generation to take the baton and continue the work.

Celebrating Brooklyn, Culture and Identity

“Back to Your Roots” was also a celebration of the extraordinary diversity of Brooklyn.

From Caribbean Heritage Month and Juneteenth to Pride Month, family traditions and neighborhood culture, the conference recognized the many experiences that shape identity.

Goodridge reminded young people that their roots are important — but their identity also includes their values, ambitions, passions and the choices they make about who they want to become.

Her challenge was simple:

What makes you different? What is your passion? What is your purpose? What do you want your legacy to be?

Youth Leadership in Action

The conference brought THEO’s peer education philosophy to life through creativity and participation.

THEO — Teens Helping Each Other is the peer leadership initiative of the Adolescent Education Program at SUNY Downstate. The program empowers young people to maintain good health, achieve academic goals and serve their communities while providing peer-driven education around HIV, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention. 

The day included workshops on sexual health, technology and AI, substance use and knowing your rights, followed by the energetic Youth HIV Awareness Fashion Show and youth theatre performances. 

These moments demonstrated what B.A.T.E.S. and THEO have championed for decades: young people learn powerfully from one another when they are given the opportunity to lead.

“I Am the Future”

One of the most memorable moments of the conference came when the young people in the audience were asked to repeat a simple affirmation:

“I am the future.”

Again:

“I am the future.”

The message captured the spirit of the entire day.

Young people are not simply preparing to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Their voices matter today.
Their health matters today.
Their ideas matter today.
Their participation matters today.

More than three decades after B.A.T.E.S. was founded, its mission continues through every young person willing to learn, lead, create, speak up and serve their community.

The baton has been passed. The next chapter belongs to them.

To learn more about THEO – Teens Helping Each Other, visit www.theoprogram.org.