Gregg Croteau

executive director, United Teen Equality Center

Croteau's experience as the executive director for United Teen Equality Center, Inc has shown him that truly successful youth programs must engage the young people in the work. UTEC is run by and for young people between the ages of 13 and 23, providing a safe haven for youth development programming and grassroots organizing. One of the most daring and successful of UTEC's programs is the Streetworker Program, which facilitates mediations with gangs on a daily basis and coordinates peace summits. Last year alone UTEC conducted more than 50 successful mediations and a highly successful peace summit between two leading rival youth gangs.