During the April 26 Whitehall-Coplay Communities That Care meeting, coalition members were introduced to the new CTC coordinator, Chrissy Confer.

Confer holds a master’s degree in social work from Marywood University and a master’s in clinical counseling from Moravian Theological Seminary. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in strategic leadership and administrative studies from Marywood University.

Before joining the Center for Humanistic Change staff, Confer was an academic adviser at Lehigh Carbon Community College and Lehigh University. She assisted students with academic planning and served as a student-to-professional facilitator, assisting with individual student career planning.

Confer served on and contributed to many committees, including the leadership committee, undergraduate advising committee and the SEED selection committee, where she also served as an adviser for students with special needs pursuing higher education.

In other business, coalition members discussed the meeting schedule during the summer months. With input from Whitehall High School Principal Dr. Peter Mayes, it was agreed the group will meet in May, July and August, with a break in June.

The next big project for the coalition will be to analyze the Pennsylvania Youth Survey data. The group will spend the summer months reviewing the data to see where its efforts can be best spent during the following school year. The PAYS data helps inform programming and other initiatives for the future.

Mayes reported the committee addressing students’ commitment to school is continuing its efforts to explore and offer additional opportunities for students to be involved. He noted they have a meeting scheduled to discuss opportunities at the middle-school level.

Students previously reported they were looking for some less formal or structured offerings such as noncompetitive or intramural sports or open gym time. Requiring less of a commitment would fit better into many students’ already busy schedules, it had been reported.

The recent Whitehall-Coplay School District Family Night, held April 17, was lauded by those who attended. Mayes noted there was a great turnout with a variety of events and activities.

The next Whitehall-Coplay CTC meeting is set for 9 a.m. May 17 at WHS, 3800 Mechanicsville Road.