10/27/2026
🎉 WHAT A NIGHT! TDN’S YOUTH & CANDIDATES FORUM! 🎉
Tonight, the Taunton Diversity Network (TDN) was proud to bring young voices and local candidates together at TCAM for an evening of thoughtful questions, meaningful conversations, and civic engagement!
đź’™ Our biggest THANK YOU goes to our incredible youth panel! đź’™
👏 Kenzleigh – BP ’29
👏 Ariena – THS ’29
👏 Sophia – THS ’29
👏 Dalia – THS ’30
👏 Maliyah – DR ’27
👏 Marthamarie – THS ’27
👏 Synica – THS ’28
👏 Sorhaya – THS ’27
👏 Xavier – THS ’31
👏 Angelina – THS ’28
👏 Junior – HS ’28
These students put tremendous thought, research, and effort into developing questions that addressed real issues affecting their lives, their families, and their communities. Their questions covered topics including homelessness, affordable housing, mental health, substance abuse and its impact on children and families, AI in schools and its environmental effects, economic opportunities for youth, law enforcement, immigration and ICE, and potential changes to state tax revenue and the gas tax.
These were not surface-level questions. They reflected curiosity, awareness, and a genuine desire to understand the decisions shaping their futures. Our youth are paying attention. They have questions. They have concerns. And they deserve to be heard.
🌟 Engaging our youth in civic life matters. When we create opportunities where young people can ask difficult questions, engage directly with candidates, and learn how government works, we help build informed, confident, and empowered future leaders. Their voices belong in these conversations—not someday, but RIGHT NOW!
A heartfelt thank-you to TCAM for providing the space and supporting this important opportunity, to our audience members for showing up and supporting youth civic engagement, and to every candidate who participated and took the time to engage with our students:
🗳️ Lisa Field — Candidate for 3rd Bristol District State Representative
🗳️ Justin Thurber — Candidate for 5th Bristol District State Representative
🗳️ Jamison Souza — Candidate for 5th Bristol District State Representative
🗳️ Seth Aitken — Candidate for Bristol County District Attorney
🗳️ Chris Markey — Candidate for Bristol County District Attorney
🗳️ Tom Hoye — Candidate for Bristol County Register of Probate
We are grateful to everyone who helped make this evening possible and demonstrated the importance of listening to the next generation.
✨ The future is bright because our youth are engaged, informed, and ready to lead! ✨
This is what civic engagement looks like. This is what investing in our youth looks like. And this is why we Fill the Seats! đź’™
