Before you go... From the Executive Director
February 8,2011 - Today, I responded to one of numerous complaints I tend to receive about the fact that some of the young people in this community spend their days sitting in the lobby or standing on the ramp or chillin' out in one of the available meeting rooms at the Centre. This time, it was that the youth were wrestling vigorously in the Brennamen Room. Other times it has been that unspecified youth are smoking cigarettes or other substances on or near the Centre property. Aside from the concerns for their health in general and for the concerns about risk and the overall welcoming atmosphere for others in the community being jeopardized, I have a deeper concern about the future of these (mostly) young men. Often , my response has been to speak to them directly about the complaints, remind them of the need to respect the Center's policies about smoking and generally, try to engage them in discussion.
Over the years, I have heard several responses that vary from their overall feeling of being monitored by police, by staff, and by community members. They generally feel unwelcomed in a Centre that has been a part of their lives since they were young children. They want jobs and opportunities to start their own businesses. Some are attending school. Some are working. Most have graduated and have been attemptimg to get jobs to no avail. They speak about being stereotyped as criminals and feeling judged on sight as such and with assumptions being made about their intentions and possible activities. I truly believe that we must embrace youth as part of our community and take personal care to ensure that they have a sense of hope, rather that a sense of defeat.
The sentiments I am expressing, echo the genuine concerns of some members of the community who have participated in focus groups to help us develop programmes. Warden Woods has recently adopted a Resource Development strategy to raise funds to provide an additional youth outreach worker and increase youth programming. However, money alone is not the solution. We need to make a commitment to transform this community into one that supports and celebrates youth, rather than participating in the general societal tendency to treat them with impunity. To that end, I am issuing a challenge to this community and to the youth in this community to share your ideas about this and take these steps: