PHOTO BY GREG KENDALL-BALL/SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER-NEWS Students participate in an icebreaker activity at the Teen Conference organized by the Carver Youth Council at the Civic Center on Saturday.

Approximately 25 youths, ranging from 11 years old to high school seniors, gathered at the Abilene Civic Center on Saturday morning for the second annual Teen Conference, "Don't Talk About It. Be It."

Numbers were down from 2007, perhaps because of the West Texas Fair & Rodeo parade that made its way past the Civic Center about an hour after the conference began.

Justin Whiteley, adviser to the Carver Youth Council that organized the event, said the group had a limited number of dates to choose from and didn't realize it had chosen the same date as the parade until later.

"You learn from your mistakes," he said. Whiteley said next year's event would probably be scheduled later in the year in hopes of drawing closer to the original attendance of approximately 60 youths.

Throughout the day they attended classes like RAP, or Rhythm and Power (using words in a positive way), Less Talk, More Action (what Carver Teens are doing in the community and how to get involved), Teen 101 (teenagers talking to each other and resolving common issues) and Let's Do This! (learning to work as a team).

"The Carver Youth Council wants to educate other youth on how to become part of the community," Whiteley said. "They want everybody to know, 'Hey, we do have a voice as youth in the community and we can do positive things. We don't have to be known as troublemakers.'"

Chauncy Dessein, Abilene High School junior and president of Carver Teens, expressed similar feelings.

"We don't like how teens are doing bad stuff these days," he said. "We made this conference where all the kids have somewhere to go and at the same time learn some new skills that they can use in life."

"It was really fun last year," said Brittani Taylor, a seventh grader at Craig Middle School and Carver Teen vice president. "We learn how to be a better person and some other stuff."

Brenden Bond returned for a second year and brought friend Travonte Stinson with him. Both are 12 and students at Clack Middle School.

"I came here last year and had a great time, so I decided to come here again," Bond said. "It's fun, and we learn to communicate."

Stinson also mentioned communication skills, then added, "We learn about actions" that can be taken to help in the community.

"We can be leaders" is the message Whiteley hopes the youths will take away with them. "This gives them the tools to be leaders in the community."