Newington Youth and Human Services Council Plans Cyberbullying Event, Sports Sale, and 988 Signage Push
Town Council · Meeting of May 11, 2026
CT NEWINGTON — Newington's Youth and Human Services Council moves toward fall cyberbullying event for middle schoolers. At the May 11 meeting, Human Services staff member Kayla Hendrickson outlined plans for a virtual substance awareness presentation in mid-June and a fall in-school program on bullying and digital safety — potentially including AI-generated deepfake imagery — aimed at younger students. A youth representative offered to recruit at least 10 high schoolers to speak to middle schoolers as peer witnesses.
The council also discussed placing 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline signs along the Berlin Turnpike, near Fastrak transit stations, and on Cedar Street, and reported $25 in proceeds from a sports equipment sale with additional inventory still headed to Play It Again Sports. A guest speaker from the nonprofit Speak Sobriety was set to address Newington parents the following evening at Martin Kellogg Middle School.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 734 words
Source: the Town Council meeting of May 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
NEWINGTON — May 11, 2026 — The Newington Youth and Human Services Council approved minutes from its March meeting and spent the bulk of its May session planning a community substance awareness presentation, a fall anti-bullying event aimed at younger students, and expanded placement of 988 mental health crisis signs around town.
The council, a volunteer advisory group that works alongside the town's Human Services Department, did not take up any contested votes or budget items. The meeting centered on programming logistics, charitable donations, and community outreach strategy.
The Full Story
Human Services staff member Kayla Hendrickson led discussion on two pending events. A virtual substance awareness presentation, drawing on material originally developed by Kristen Sandler of the Southington Steps organization, is being planned for mid-June. Hendrickson said May was already full with Mental Health Awareness Month programming and that late June risked schedule conflicts with graduation parties and the end of the school year.
"I just don't want to be talking to nobody," Hendrickson said of the timing calculus, noting she planned to send out a scheduling poll to members the following day. [No timestamp index supplied]
The group also began early planning for a fall community event focused on cyberbullying and digital safety, aimed primarily at middle school students. Discussion quickly broadened to include AI-generated deepfake imagery and voice cloning as forms of harassment. Council member Jim Magee described mandatory training he takes through scouting that covers cases of students being depicted in fabricated images and driven to self-harm. The council expressed interest in pairing an in-school daytime presentation with a separate evening session for parents.
"I know at least 10 people I could get to come probably," said one youth representative, referring to high schoolers who might return to speak to middle schoolers about their bullying experiences. The group agreed that peer speakers from older grades tend to have more impact than adult-only presentations. Hendrickson said she planned to meet the following week with school administration — she referenced a Dr. Brumet — to explore getting the program onto next year's school calendar. The council noted that cannabis prevention funds could potentially support the event's messaging.
Hendrickson also introduced a batch of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline signs the Human Services Department had received. Signs intended for town-owned campuses were already in hand; the department is looking into acquiring road-facing versions. Members suggested placement along the Berlin Turnpike, near the Fastrak transit stations, along Cedar Street, and in areas near the high school where foot traffic is high. Hendrickson said she would look into whether road installation requires coordination with the highway department or can be done by staff directly.
On the sports equipment sale, council members reported $25 in proceeds from a recent craft fair, with more inventory — including golf bags and vintage wooden hockey sticks — still to be moved. Hendrickson and Kayla agreed to coordinate a run to Play It Again Sports using a town van. Council members also discussed how to raffle off donated sports tickets, including eight tickets to New Britain Bees games and a package to a Hartford Athletic soccer match. The group confirmed the Bees' season runs only through August 8, setting a practical deadline, and discussed selling raffle tickets through the Human Services office at Harmer's Plaza through the end of May.
The council noted that guest speaker Stephen Hill of the organization Speak Sobriety was scheduled to address parents and guardians the following evening, May 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Martin Kellogg Middle School. Hill had previously spoken to high school students about his recovery story.
Why It Matters
The council's programming choices reflect growing concern in Newington about digital harms to young people. If the group secures school calendar time for a fall bullying and cyberbullying presentation, it would be one of the first efforts specifically targeting middle schoolers in recent years; prior events focused more on high school audiences. The parallel push to post 988 crisis signs on roads and near transit stations extends a statewide effort to make mental health resources more visible in high-traffic and high-need areas. The community Stephen Hill presentation on May 12 is the most immediate action item coming directly out of this meeting.
Key Motions & Votes
- Vote: Approval of minutes from the March meeting Tally: Approved unanimously
Source
Newington's community access TV: Youth and Human Services Council meeting, May 11, 2026