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<br />Meeting Minutes <br />Community Center Task Force <br /> <br />Meeting July 19, 2011 Meeting Time / 7:30 p.m. / Cary Hall <br />Date: Location Legion Room <br /> <br />Members in Laura Hussong, Chair Liaisons in Chris Ammer, Cary Library <br />Attendance: Betty Borghesani Attendance: Jane Trudeau, FCOA <br /> Sophia Ho, Sandro Alessandrini, SC <br /> Tim Dugan Gail Fields, HSvc <br /> Jim Goell Nancy Adler, LWV <br /> Hank Manz, BofSelectmen <br />Absent: Florence Koplow, <br />Lisah Rhodes Guest: Dan Fenn, George Burnell, <br /> Tom Diaz <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The meeting began with a presentation from Ellen McDonald about the needs of teenagers in <br />Lexington. Ellen was central to the effort in 2003 to create a teen center, and conducted research <br />on the issue that was presented to Town Meeting that year. <br /> <br />Ellen McDonald, Advocate for Lexington teens. <br />Ellen gave a brief history of the effort to create a teen center in 2002-2003. As part of that <br />thth <br />effort, the committee conducted a survey of 5 through 11 grade students. There were 1600 <br />surveys distributed and 11 tabulated. What did the survey indicate teens want/value? They <br />valued choice, and wanted a direct voice in programming decisions. They wanted unstructured, <br />unprogrammed time, couches, food, friends. They wanted group study area, but Ellen reminded <br />us that Cary Library was under construction at the time. They wanted fun, hangout space, <br />quieter space for talking. Middle schoolers wanted ping pong, pool, air hockey, big screen TV <br />for sports, crafts, painting, art room. Older teens wanted music practice space (for bands), <br />kitchen to make food and learn how to cook, learn to knit and sew. They all wanted performance <br />space for: open mike, battle of bands, guitar hero, film festival. They need space to share highs, <br />lows, frustrations, all the joys and traumas of being a teen. Two LHS English teachers wanted <br />performance space so student work (e.g. poetry and 1-act plays) could be performed instead of <br />being assigned for homework and forgotten. Students want to perform for each other, not for <br />adults. <br /> <br />Research indicates that successful teen centers have peer leadership programs, ‘kids teaching <br />kids’ and “near adult roles” that give older teens opportunities to act as adults. Dynamic <br />programming, Staff is critical to recruit and retain teens, and staff are the role models. Must <br /> <br />