2026 Collaborative Conversations: "Gone Guys" Film Screening & Discussion Panel

When young people lose their path, whole communities feel it.

"Disconnected youth" refers to young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor working. Nationally, millions fall into this category, and the Monadnock Region is not immune. These are not young people who have given up. They are young people who haven't found a way in.

The consequences reach further than most of us realize. For the young people themselves, disconnection often means years lost to uncertainty, isolation, and shrinking opportunity. For our region, it means a workforce gap we can't afford to ignore — fewer people entering trades, filling open positions, or building lives and careers here.

Gone Guys is a 45-minute documentary inspired by Richard V. Reeves' Of Boys and Men. Set in rural Vermont, the film brings national data to life through the personal stories of young men, educators, mentors, and innovative programs working to re-engage boys and young men in their communities. The film tackles difficult but important questions about disconnected youth, while reinforcing that caring more about boys and men does not mean caring less about women and girls.

Following the screening, we will host a panel discussion focused on how our region can better support and engage disconnected youth, drawing on lived experience, education, workforce pathways, and community-based solutions.

For the chamber, this conversation is about helping more young people see a future for themselves here as connected community members with purpose, opportunity, and pathways into meaningful work.

This is a conversation for educators, employers, nonprofit leaders, parents, and anyone who believes that every young person deserves a real path forward.

Panelists:

Donald L Birx, PhD, President of Plymouth State University and Keene State College Interim President
Gina Pasquale, PsyD, Executive Director of Maps Counseling
Sarah Jenness, Director at Jobs for the Future, who cowrote a paper titled “Design and Implementation of College and Career Pathways on Rural Communities.”
Evenor Pineda, CPSS Intervention Services Director, Manchester Police Athletic League

About Collaborative Conversations

GMC's Collaborative Conversations brings together regional leaders, nonprofit professionals, educators, public officials, and community members to explore issues shaping the Monadnock Region. The focus is on education and informed dialogue around topics that influence leadership, community well-being, civic responsibility, and regional opportunity.

Programs may take the form of leadership workshops, documentary screenings, panel discussions, or facilitated presentations led by subject-matter experts. Each event is designed to deepen understanding, strengthen regional awareness, and encourage thoughtful engagement across sectors.

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Event Sponsors

Date and Time

Wednesday Jun 3, 2026
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM EDT

Location

The Colonial's SHOWROOM

20 Commercial Street Keene NH 03431

Fees/Admission

Free to attend, registration is required.

Contact Information

GMC Chamber
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