HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-07-19-CCTF-min Meeting Minutes
Community Center Task Force
Meeting July 19, 2011 Meeting Time/ 7 30 p m. / Cary Hall
Date: Location Legion Room
Members in Laura Hussong, Chair Liaisons in Chris Ammer, Cary Library
Attendance: Betty Borghesam Attendance: Jane Trudeau, FCOA
Sophia Ho, Sandro Alessandrini, SC
Tim Dugan Gail Fields, HSvc
Jim Goell Nancy Adler, LWV
Hank Manz, BofSelectmen
Absent: Florence Koplow,
Lisah Rhodes Guest: Dan Fenn, George Burnell,
Tom Diaz
The meeting began with a presentation from Ellen McDonald about the needs of teenagers in
Lexington. Ellen was central to the effort in 2003 to create a teen center, and conducted research
on the issue that was presented to Town Meeting that year
Ellen McDonald, Advocate for Lexington teens.
Ellen gave a brief history of the effort to create a teen center in 2002-2003 As part of that
effort, the committee conducted a survey of 5th through 11th grade students There were 1600
surveys distributed and 11 tabulated. What did the survey indicate teens want/value9 They
valued choice, and wanted a direct voice in programming decisions They wanted unstructured,
unprogrammed time, couches, food, friends They wanted group study area, but Ellen reminded
us that Cary Library was under construction at the time They wanted fun, hangout space,
quieter space for talking. Middle schoolers wanted ping pong, pool, air hockey, big screen TV
for sports, crafts, painting, art room. Older teens wanted music practice space (for bands),
kitchen to make food and learn how to cook, learn to knit and sew They all wanted performance
space for. open mike, battle of bands, guitar hero, film festival. They need space to share highs,
lows, frustrations, all the boys and traumas of being a teen. Two LHS English teachers wanted
performance space so student work(e g. poetry and 1-act plays) could be performed instead of
being assigned for homework and forgotten. Students want to perform for each other, not for
adults.
Research indicates that successful teen centers have peer leadership programs, 'kids teaching
kids'and 'near adult roles' that give older teens opportunities to act as adults Dynamic
programming, Staff is critical to recruit and retain teens, and staff are the role models Must
Meeting Minutes
Community Center Task Force
carefully balance adult direction and not crowding kids Need to be able to walk to the
Center research shows that teens must be able to get there by themselves, pop in and see who is
there and come back.
Wellesley had a once-per-month teen program that rotated from church to church. The program
didn't work; teens did not feel ownership of the program or the space
Q&A after presentation
How does intergenerational contact with teens works Studies in NYC found that the best age
mix is seniors and grade school children.
What about the Fix-It center, teaching teensy There are a lot of musicians in town connect
retired musicians with (younger 9) teens
Would teens go to a place with a lot of ages Give them a separate door
In Europe, there are discos with dancing and music, no alcohol of course, that are hangouts for
teens
Here the hours from 3-7pm are the difficult hours for the kids we want to reach. Lexington has
no bowling alleys, no boys and girls club, no Y, many towns have one or more of these
Did anything about the results surprise your Yes, that only about 1/3 of the surveys returned felt
they needed a teen center Not every kid will come, not every kid needs it Many kids are in
school, then sports all day, they have no time
Kinds of space needed There are so many multi-use functions such as kitchen, food. Not so
many dedicated spaces
How will services be provided (general question) public or private9 Carefully identify
UNMET needs
After the presentation, the committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the July 5,
2011 meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 9 25 PM. The next two meetings of the CCTF are scheduled for
August 2nd and August 25th at 7 30pm, in Room G-15 of Town Hall.
Meeting Minutes
Community Center Task Force
Respectfully submitted by Laura Hussong