HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-30-1996 - 1 1
Report to Orange County Assembly of Governments
May 30th, 1996
Ag,enda
I. Introduction: David Zipper, CHHS
H. Overview of Forums I and H:
Paula Compton & Katherine Miller, OHS
III. Presentation of Youth Agenda:
1. Cheaper Places to go: Arie Farrar, CHHS
2. Student on School Board: Shenae McPherson, OHS
3. Control of Smoking: Joy Williams & Josh Skidmore, OHS
4. Having more Forums: Mike Allingham, CHHS
5. Projects: Terrill Thompson, OHS
6. Inter-School Council: Charles Lipper, CHHS
7. Newspaper: Eric Taylor, OHS
8. Jobs: Rachel Maid, OHS
9. Equal Opportunities: Shyra Cooper, CHHS
10. Youth Radio: Eric Martin, CHHS
11. Parents: Kourtney Henry, OHS
IV. Questions and Answers: Moses Carey
V. Resolution Presentation: Iva Taylor, CHHS
Youth Voices of Orange County
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Report to Orange County
Assembly of Governments
May 30, 1996
Youth Voices of Orange County
Report to Orange County Assembly of Governments
May 30, 1996
Organization Background
The purpose of the youth task force initiated by the Public Private Partnership and the
Orange County Government in the summer of 1995 was to create a mechanism through
which a broad spectrum of youth in Orange County could come together, organize their
agenda, and bring their concerns and needs to the total community table. It was hoped
that by doing so communication between youths and adults in Orange County could be
improved-- and that actions could be taken on communication which would enhance
quality of life for all ages in the community.
The process was to engage the youth in developing a system that would collectively
identify their own agenda and then present their findings to the community. Central to
the process was the mandate that development of such a system would be youth driven
and youth operated.
Members from the Public Private Partnership, the Orange County Government, and
the UNC School of Social Work began to initiate the process in late August, 1995. A
steering committee of key community leaders, representatives from Orange County
Government and representatives from both Orange High School and Chapel Hill High
School student governments were recruited. By October 4th, 1995, the first
organizational steering committee was held with 15 members in attendance. During the
entire process of this project,the steering committee has grown to as many as 33
members.
Youth representatives and key community leaders together planned a process by
which the youth agenda prioritization could be developed. Meeting every two weeks
(alternating meeting places between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill)a plan was laid out.
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The youth on the committee decided on the name "Youth Voices of Orange County" for
their project.
Forum I: January 31st, 1996
A Forum --or"Speakout" -- of focus groups was planned for January 31 st, 1996.
Approximately 110 youth representing Orange High School and Chapel Hill High School
convened. Youth steering committee members,with the help of their school advisors,
gathered a diverse group of students together. Additional students were included from
the other key community leaders -- from the community. With full cooperation from the
two high schools,the students met all day at Orange County United Methodist Church.
There were t4 focus groups that carefully and thoughtfully discussed a number of
agenda items in three categories: Community, Self, and Peer Relationships. The overall
categories and questions for discussion had been created and selected by the youth on the
steering committee. Table groups were led in their discussions by trained youth
moderators. A student evaluation of the forum is attached, but results of the day show an
overwhelming request of those attending to repeat the experience. Students from both
schools seemed to genuinely enjoy getting together and having the opportunity to meet.
They listed many areas of great interest and concern to them under each of the three
categories.
General Summary of Forum I
Youths want and need respect and support from adults in their community. They
express a willingness to take responsibility for their own issues, but realize that there
needs to be better communication between the community generations so that mutual
understanding and support might develop. They strongly ask for safety protection and a
stronger sense of law and discipline in their schools. They want the adult community to
recognize their many positive abilities and achievements and to make suggestions as to
how this can be accomplished.
2
There is an overwhelming message that the youth representatives of Orange County
think a county mechanism(place, organization) that is youth directed might allow them
to pursue their own responsibilities in the community.
Forum II: March 27th, 1996
Following Forum I,the steering committee wanted further prioritization of their
recommendations-- and a way of presenting their agenda to the community. This time,
the youth met at the Homestead Community Center. Again, over 100 youth from the
high schools met. They used the focus group system again to further expand the major
points of the first forum. From their discussions,they listed the most important issues.
Altogether,they prioritized eleven areas that they feel are of primary concern. Along
with recommendations, the students made suggestions of what could be done to address
the issues.
General recommendations from Forum II:
1. Cheaper places to go: youth center, clubs, etc.
2. Student representative on the School Boards
3. Control of smoking in schools
4. More forums involving all youth
5. Youth projects
6. Inter-school council
7. Newspaper(communication)
8. Job information/listing/search help
9. Equal opportunities for all schools
10. Youth Radio
11. Parent involvement
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Summary of Forum I
Focus Group Response
On January 31st, over 110 youths from Orange County came together at Orange
United Methodist Church to discuss issues pertaining to youth. The group was
organized by a steering committee(Youth Voices of Orange County) made up of
youth and adult community representatives from all over Orange County. The
purpose of the January 31st meeting was to form youth led focus groups to
determine the importance of issues involving youths in the county. Questions for the
14 focus groups which met that day were designed by the steering committee
members. The following is a summary of the findings of the focus groups and their
primary recommendations for change.
Youth Voices of Orange County
Report of State of the Youth
Community
Question 1
,ry Do you feel a responsibility to improve your community? If so,how can you go about
doing this? If no,why not?
The responses show no clear perception of youths'personal responsibility for
improving the community. There appears to be a sense of lack of control and knowledge
as to how to go about taking on responsibility. The responses show the youths'
willingness to be responsible if told how.
Question 2:
What new and exciting things would you like to see happen in your community that
involve or affect teenagers?
There were many suggestions given on new and exciting things that might happen in
the county involving youths. These suggestions centered around participation in youth
activities-- recreational and community service.
The four top prioritized suggestions were:
1. Take on projects, a culture fest, special events, pep rallies, concerts with different
bands, 4-H, go to elementary schools, clean up roads, interaction between elemen-
tary schools,volunteer programs,pool hall, other sports, combining sports, need
a disco or a dance club.
2. Students sit in on School Board-- same privileges as School Board(offer
suggestions or opinions.)
3. Dance clubs (for teens under 21)basket ball, drama clubs, etc.
4. Place where people from Chapel Hill and Hillsborough and other communities
could come together and hangout. Abetter community center— not just sports,
but arcade,pool room, etc.
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Question 3:
Do you feel informed about what is going on in your community? If yes, how did you
become informed? If not, how can we make it easier for you to be informed?
There was a clear response that information about activities in the community for
youths is not communicated well over the entire county. Many suggestions for improving
this situation were given. The most strongly made suggestions were:
1. Youth radio station
2. Inter-school council
3. Publications (youth) with equal publicity
Question 4:
Is transportation for programs and services a problem? If so, to what things do you have
difficulties with transportation and can you make any suggestions to remedy the
situation? If not,what methods work for you now?
Transportation was cited as a problem --but was not noted as strong an issue as other
;17 items. Respondents would like to see more buses available when they need them, and
suggested a bus line between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill as well as between Chapel
Hill and Durham.
Self
Question 5:
Are you comfortable in your home and school environments? Explain. (Bring up safety
issues).
The youths' sense of personal safety was reported!to be threatened primarily outside
the home. The focus of this personal sense of threat was on issues of school safety.
Overwhelmingly, smoking and other drugs threaten personal comfort and safety. There
is an apparent mistrust of authority in dealing with these problems, authority being
security guards and lack of enforcement by teachers for these issues.
Top prioritized suggestions:
1. Find ways to control the smoking, provide smoke detectors, provide smoking areas
if smoking cannot be controlled, keep smokers out of bathrooms.
2. Expel students who get into fights and don't let anyone who is expelled from one
school enroll in another.
3. Place more 911 phones in heavy traffic areas.
4. Enforce laws and make more severe punishment for those involving drugs, car
vandalism, etc. Concentrate on major crime!
5. Place more police in schools and fewer security guards.
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Question 6:
What do you currently value most in your life? Why?
Focus group youths show a strong personal value of friends, family, and individual
freedom. Education, sports, music and a value of self and beliefs were also important to
them.
Question 7:
With whom do you communicate your successes and disappointments?
They point out particular teachers and friends as those to whom they go with personal
successes and disappointments. There was some feeling that parental expectations are
extremely high. Some respondents felt that fathers generally are not involved in the
young person's life, and that mothers do seem more available to youths.
Question 8:
How can the community become aware of the good that youths do?
Youths responded that they perceive themselves differently from those predominant
.� perceptions shown to them by adults or that they see relayed in the media In general, the
news/radio/TV tend to focus on the negative. The youths feel that the community doesn't
have an accurate picture of what they do. There was a feeling that parents are too quick
to judge and that they tend to focus on the negative. Findings in youth responses show a
wish for the positive activities of young people to be highlighted-
The top prioritized comments were:
1. Newspapers need to show good things, like acceptances to college, scholarships
and community services. High school sections should be more than once a week:
all around good deeds need to be portrayed—not just athletics.
2. Inter-school council with newsletter with information on clubs kept up-to-date.
3. Community needs to make the effort to investigate the good youths do—to learn
how to find and support them.
Peer Relationships
Question 9:
Are there programs and/or opportunities for interactions between youths from different
areas of the county? If not,how could it be improved?
Responses to the focus group topics and to the student evaluation of the forum
overwhelmingly revealed the strong desire for more opportunities for youths from
different areas in the county to come together. Stated opinions clearly show the desire of
the youths to "Come together as a unit, talk together and listen to one anothers' ideas".
One respondent saw the need "for once to come together without being competitive".
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Question 10:
Do teenagers get along in Orange County?
The focus groups' responses show that there is a great deal of stereotyping between the
youths from Northern and Southern County. There is a problem with strong cliques
within each school and between the schools. There is a general misunderstanding
between the peer groups due to lack of opportunity to get to know each other better.
Present opportunities consist only of competitive events.
Top prioritized suggestions were:
1. Have other forums to keep up with progress.
2. Provide equal opportunities for schools (OHS & CHHS)
3. Provide recreational activities involving both schools and the entire youth
community(late night peer gathering events included).
4. Have a committee with a variety of students from both high schools and let them
organize events and advertise in the school and community (interaction between
high schools).
Question 11:
Do we as youths have a strong sense of morality? From where or from whom do we get
this sense of morality?
Respondents gave a view of their personal sense of morality—and that of their peers.
They emphasized a lack of confidence felt from adults towards them. One respondent
said, "We make good decisions that adults don't see(re. drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy".
They noted a discouragement to teens because of this lack of adult confidence.
Differences in the generations, lack of trust, and unrealistic parental expectations is
noted. There is the desire for support and encouragement from adults. Some teachers
were seen as potential positive influences.
Top prioritized suggestions:
1. Homes with parents should set the base for children—then give them room to
make their own decisions.
2. Parents should educate children about sex and give their advise and opinions, but
support kids in their decisions because the kids are going to do what they want--so
the parents should educate them and help them protect themselves.
3. Parents need to have more realistic expectations. Support from parents will
encourage and increase morals.
Question 12:
Are you willing to help your peers and are you given the opportunity to do so?
Peers show a strong willingness to help each other if given the opportunity to do so,
and a few suggested that tutoring programs would work.
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Final (million S) question:
If you had one million dollars to spend in Orange County for teenagers, how would you
spend it?
The top priorities were:
1. Come up with a place where the students of Chapel Hill High and Orange High
can come together and have fun(planned by students or with student input) --
restaurant/club/coffee shop/cafe—place to just hang out--don't have to actually
do anything and a place run by young adults 25 years or younger.
2. Halfway house for teenagers(in-house tutor).
3. Community activity, recreation, entertainment center for youths between two
schools.
4. Need cheaper places to go. Teenagers work to support the community just as
adults do,but their financial resources are limited.
5. Job development/careers (safe environment)to help get jobs.
General Summary:
Youths want and need respect and support from the adults in their community. They
express a willingness to take responsibility for their own issues,but realize that there
needs to be better communication between the community generations so that
understanding and support might develop. They strongly ask for safety protection and a
stronger sense of law and discipline in their schools. They want the adult community to
recognize their many positive abilities and achievements and to make suggestions as to
how this can be done.
There is an overwhelming message that youths think a county mechanism(place,
organization?)which is youth directed might allow them to pursue their own
responsibilities in the community.
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Prioritization of Final Recommendations
Forum II
Final Recommendations
March 27, 1996
2nd Speakout - Youth Voices of Orange County
1. Cheaper Places To Go (youth center, clubs, etc.): 76 Votes
2. Student on the School Board: 74 Votes
3. Control of Smoking (in schools): 57 Votes
4. Having more forums: 42 Votes
5. Projects: 34 Votes
6. Inter-School Council: 32 Votes
7. Newspaper (Communication): 30 Votes
8. Jobs: 16 Votes
9. Equal Opportunities: 16 Votes
10. Youth Radio: 9 Votes
11. Parents: 1 Vote
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Final Recommendations
March 27, 1996
2nd Speakout - Youth Voices of Orange County
1. Cheaper Places to Go (Youth Center, Clubs, etc.) : 76 votes
Emphasis on a place where youth from all over the county - both
Orange High School kids and Chapel Hill High kids could come
together, mix, relax and form community. Needs to be affordable to all.
Why?
1. Keep teens out of trouble(so they would not have to sneak).
2. Decrease boredom.
3. Increase social skills
4. Place to call our own.
5. Low cost activities.
6. No places for 18 and younger now.
,L{ 7. Clubs are not abundant in N. Orange.
8. Flat fees are better b/c movies/dinner, etc, can add up.
9. Would bring both schools together, since run by young people, it can a relaxed so the
youth feel comfortable.
10. Gives us something to do -keeps students off the streets and out of trouble.
11. Relieves tension-blow off some steam.
12. Meet new people.
13. Mix the different people at CHHS & OHS.
14. Teen recreation center would solve$ problems for students.
15. Positive coming together of OHS & CHHS.
16. Promotes good relations.
17. Be good neighbors (like State Farm).
18. We need a good hang-out to get together.
20. Would benefit the community
21. Students go to school and often don't have as much time as they would like to make $
22. Fun doesn't equal Money
23. Could donate more time to schoolwork than working.
24. Bridge a gap between the rich and the not so rich.
25. Save more $ for college or other opportunities.
26. Places that wouldn't be very far away.
27. Relieve stress from home without spending a bundle.
28. Only for teenagers-9th grade through age 20.
29. Area to play sports, have events,etc.
30. Cheaper places to go.
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What:
1. Dance halls restaurant, arcade, pool hall for people under 20 no drinking), cheap
movie theaters ($1, $2), skating rinks -- all just for teens - no elem. school age kids.
2. More discounts for students.
3. A place that would have diversity in food& offerings(like cappuccino& hot dogs),
4. Games, athletic areas/fields.
5. Needs to be NEW&BIG&at the border of Hillsborough& C.H. (such as old 86).
6. Inexpensive
7. Cash cards/Teen discounts
8. Community supported transportation, mixers,basketball, available hours, different
types of music and activities, local bands, diversity, pool, soccer field, video games,
care, snack bar--a little bit of everything! But cheap!
9. Arts/athletics
10. Cafe/coffee house with entertainment.
11. Flat fees - involving lots of activities such as food, music, dancing.
12. Loose atmosphere, late hours, free admission; pay for what you eat and drink.
13. Establish age limit(high school ages).
14. Have dances, show movies, late night basketball, refreshments, coffee shop.
15. Skate board park.
r 16. Area to play sports, have events, etc.
17. Can serve as a community service
18. Recreational area open 24 hours a day.
How:
1. Ask community for funds, help, etc.
2. Students could fund raise (inter school council).
3. Needs to be run by 25 year old adults or younger.
4. Business, church groups sponsor activities.
5. Community supported.
6. Possibly run by students,but normal place of employment or non-profit.
7. Only for teenagers -9th grade through age 20
8. Should be located between CH&Hillsborough.
9. Everything headed by youth.
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2. Students of the School Board: 74 Votes.
Why?
1. To speak up about the student opinion
2. Decisions directly affect the students.
3. They(students)know what's going on.
4. More input from students view.
5. School board members should have children in their system
6. We could learn from each other.
7. Parents react differently to issues; students views are not represented.
8. It directly affects us.
9. Would give a more in-depth view of student opinions.
10. Take some power away from the principal and superintendent.
11. School board punishes us for past actions.
12. They are our school -therefore, we should have a say in what decisions are
made.
13. Listen to us -hear what we say.
14. Publicity for students.
15. Student voice.
r 16. Learning devise-learn about democracy.
17. Gives formal way for adults of the community to hear youth opinions.
18. Gives students a way to voice their opinions.
19. Makes students and adults both aware of current issues affecting them.
20. Opinions first hand.
21. We are the ones who have to deal w/decisions made.
22. We know what's going on in schools and school board members don't!!
23. Students taken seriously.
24. To give students a say on what goes on in their schools.
25. Students on campus are more aware of needs and wants.
26. To gives students responsibility.
27. To give students experience in politics.
28. If the entire student body is in favor of one project, the members can still
override our decision.
How?
L Make arrangements with school board.
2. Hold in-school elections for student members or allow students to run on official
ballots.
3. Students be at planning sessions.
4. Publicize meeting-time, date, etc.
5. Get student opinions on record(someday, maybe even vote!)
6. Select students to sit in and speak at board meetings.
7. It's feasible- other schools have student representatives.
8. Not just student government councils represented.
9. Use an advisory board to meet with school board.
10. Would it only be I student?
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11. What about the fact that there are separate school boards?
12. People who serve on inter-school council could be representatives.
13. Let the students vote for school board members by%of actual votes
14. Students wouldn't have to have the privilege to vote,just provide input.
15. Different grade level representatives.
16. Make sure student realizes responsibility.
17. Most common name by nomination vote.
18. Representative, for every adult= student representative.
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3. Control of Smoking: School Smoking: 57 Votes
Why?
1. We're tired of the smell!!
2. Bathrooms are horrible
3. Bathrooms are intolerable
4. Don't want to smell like smoke all day
5. Smell reeks
6. Breathing problems, second hand smoke
7. Leave to use rest room, come back w/smell in clothes,teacher assumes that it was your
bad behavior.
8. Bathrooms stink.
9. Bad health.
10. Health-can't breath
11. Bad impression to teachers.
12. Illegal to smoke on school grounds.
Solutions:
1. Make specific smoking place.
2. Smoke detectors.
3. What level law banning school smoking areas is on- and how to organize to change it.
4. Revise punishments for smoking in school
5. Bathroom ventilation.
6. Security guard checks bathrooms.
7. Drop the 3 strikes your are out program-just make it one.
8. When school receives visitors, make them visit O.H.S bathrooms.
9. Sprinklers-but could cause pranks.
10. How to penalize abusers.
11. Not the teachers job to monitor.
12. Designated area?
13. Give a place for smokers.
14. Enforce rules of smoking.
15. Sprinkler system in bath room.
16. Have teachers check bathrooms in between classes.
17. Sprinklers.
18. Smoking area(outside).
19. Hidden camera.
20. Enforce stricter penalties.
21. Administrators need to start dealing with the problem.
22. Smoke detectors may not work.
23. More punishment
24. No smoking in the bathrooms.
25. Designated places for smokers - if they are going to do it, at least they can
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do it in the comfort of their own space without invading others w/the
smell and unhealthy smoke.
26. Security guards to cease the smoking.
27. More enforcement on behalf of the teachers.
28. Smoking/cancer awareness.
„r
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4. Have more Forums: 42 Votes
Why?
1. To make sure ideas are carried out.
2. To bring schools together, students get to know one another.
3. To encourage student's thoughts and community activism.
4. Let community know what we think.
5. Chance for students to express ideas that otherwise might not be heard.
6. Community gets to hear student's vice
7. Builds a bridge between the two schools.
8. Encourages communication between the two schools.
9. Students get a chance to be heard in the community.
10. Important because we both realize that we are all alike.
11. Diversity allows for representation of everyone's views,not just the elite.
12. Brings OHS & CHHS together, good 1 st step.
13. Shows the adults that youths can come up with good ideas.
14. Gives common ground.
15. Ideas come together; friendly relations
16. Brings ideas into the open.
.s
How & Ideas for Future:
1. Make sure this continues after leaders graduate.
2. Councils could take over the forums.
3. Have larger rooms
4. More organization.
5. Location between CH& Orange.
6. Things need to get done, or else, =a waste of time.
7. Switch kids (advantages& disadvantages)
8. We need responses as to the advice we've given from PPP & students.
9. Continue on a regular basis (once a quarter- every 9 weeks).
10. Make sure spots are filled after graduation.
11. Keep it interesting.
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5. Projects: 34 Votes
Why?
1. FUN- something worthwhile to do.
2. There isn't anywhere to go; easier to get new students acquainted.
3. Encourage community service - get involved!
4. Make community aware of good students.
5. Show community that we're constructive.
6. Many students aren't really involved in school - lack of school spirit.
7. Keeps students out of trouble.
8. Something to do -relieves boredom.
9. Cheap S.
10. Get more involved in the school and make new friends.
11. Students from both schools can get together.
12. Provides interaction with elementary school.
13. Optional
14. Only certain groups would participate.
15. C.H. w/O.H., we need a mixture.
16. Involve all students and community members to meet and find out what's going
on in the other's life& community.
17. Entertaining-fun activities,bands,vendors, etc.
18. Voluntary meeting- set time,place where everyone can come.
What?
1. Community Fair
2. Set up committee with students and community members to play-hire band, vendors,
also local publicity-make designated time and place.
3. Pep rallies vs. going home, is it a waste of time?
4. After school (?)
5. More interesting vs. boring, include band& speakers.
6. Agriculture fest vs. humanities/culture fest.
7. Include foreign language departments.
8. Both school come together for fest. Weather determines location.
9. Big brother/big sister>elementary(?)
10. Transportation?
11. Bands could be a part of festival
12. Bands that appeal to everyone.
13. Culture&humanities Festival
14. Battle of the Bands : emphasis on performances.
15. Street Fairs i.e.: Apple Chill,Festifall
16. Something where both Chapel Hill and Hillsborough can combine the activities.
17. Make sure event is between Orange(Hills.)&C.H.
18. Culture Fest
19. Provide more and cheaper places for kids to eat- cash card.
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6. Inter-School Council: 32 Votes
Why?
1. Unites all clubs from both schools.
2. Keeps everyone up-to-date
3. Encourage interaction.
4. A practical way to bring 2 schools together.
5. Provides access to each other.
6. Organize events
7. Information Newsletter
8. Provides bonding experience
9. Issues involve parents, so why go through them to resolve the issue
10. Break down barriers between schools
11. Deal with issues not appropriate for School board.
12. Get ideas from other schools
13. have more forums
14. Keep both schools and others outside of school informed of each others activities.
15. Work together on activities and organize projects.
16. Discuss mutual problems and solutions.
' 17. Help to guide, as an information source, on budget.
18. Encourage communication
19. Reaches a lot of students
20. Diverse group of students could partake in it.
21. Improve Communication
22. Bring students together from two schools
23. Provides organization
How - Ideas:
1. Have representatives from both schools come together and meet to discuss current
issues. Meet in a central location.
2. Organize, publicize events and put out a newsletter.
3. Possibility?High School presidents meet.
4. Organize events(primarily).
5. Information newsletter.
6. Bands playing together
7. Culture fest for OHS.
8. Dances with DJ's.
9. Intramural Sports -mix teams
10. Combine Proms.
11. Have representative for each club(1 or 2)and other interested students.
12. Plan activities for each club=basketball games, concerts, service activities, etc.
13. Make publication(newsletters)
14. Fund-raisers to support activities.
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7. Newspapers (Communications): 30 votes; More to do with what
youth would like to see in local newspapers-not school newspapers.
Why?
1. Report on good stuff
2. Improve public opinion of youth-youth not all bad
3. Improve chances of college acceptance
4. Show role models of youth.
5. Get rid of the bad youth image
6. Get rid of negative stereotypes
7. Demonstrate more support for good actions
8. Good things in addition to sports
9. Fewer generalizations
10. Impression is often given that the youth are either doing bad or nothing
11. To keep community and youth informed.
12. Give student initiative to be recognized.
13. Positive reinforcement.
14. Role models
15. Better Community view of youth.
16. Reduce focus on "the bad".
17. Show community that youth do good things -not crime related.
18. Improve community's view on teen lifestyles.
19. Encourage youth to do more good because it would be recognized.
How?
1. On staff student reporter
2. Partnership between schools and newspapers.
3. Inter-school council submit material.
4. Find way to notify newspapers of school's activities.
5. Have special sections in newspaper
6. Focus on one person a week.
7. Send directly to homes.
8. Have in "real" newspapers.
9. More prominent communications between school and newspaper
10. Give community public access to school newspapers
11. Have public service/good deed for the month.
12. Promote victories and sports.
13. Provide news aside from honor roll or sports.
14. Good mixture and representation.
15. Something in major newspaper i.e.:News& Observer
16. Not just sports and bad happenings; clubs & academics want recognition. Not just
the honor roll twice a year.
17. Publicize bands, clubs,academic competitions.
18. Make newspapers aware of good things we do-honors, awards,volunteering.
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8. Job Development/Career: 16 Votes
Half Way House was also counted in with this.
Why?
1. Job availability-we want to know!
2. Find it difficult to be taken seriously
3. Many students have no place to live-no future.
4. Some students have absolutely no ideas what type of occupation they want to have.
5. Would bring the community together.
6. Would provide a chance to get better jobs.
7. Would help to get jobs(info., training,jobs that fit you needs).
8. University's needs for all Orange Co. students.
9. Finding out about job availability is difficult.
10. Training is needed: typing, etc.
11. To allow for higher incomes for teenagers.
12. Increase youth initiative and responsibility
13. Better relations between adults and youth
14. Looks better on college application to have internships.
How & Ideas:
1. Provide office to train& provide jobs info.
2. Make adults aware of youth employment agency so they can post jobs.
3. Get business people to speak to youth and sponsor internships.
4. Internships
5. Help to do well on interviews.
6. Groups like Habitat for Humanity could help.
7. Give direction to students who need it through tutors and mentors.
8. Baby-sitting for service learning hours.
9. Require students of age to have to go to high school for an education.
10. Have counselors there to help.
11. Perhaps have classes that any students could learn a skill such as cosmetology
or repair jobs and come out of high school to better jobs.
12. Internships: don't make us hunt for them.
13. Tell everyone and not just select students.
14. Maybe a job corp. at school. Offer small jobs for teens over summer, i.e., peer tutor.
15. Teach job skills, i.e., resume, interview, how to fill out an application, etc.
20
9. Equal Opportunities: 16 votes
Why?
1. Unfair comparisons between schools.
2. Equal academic opportunities (same classes offered).
3. CHHS have advantages over OHS in getting into college.
4. Not fair!
How?
1. We realize this is impossible(financially)!:
a. Could merge school systems
b. Raise OHS standards.
c. Raise County taxes.
2. Same technology.
3. Same funding.
4. Share courses.
5. Same funding for electives esp. cultural arts.
21
10. Radio Station for Youths: 9 Votes
Why?
1. Inform communities about schools and achievements
2. Information for teens.
3. Great way for two schools to communicate.
4. Could mobilize public opinion/interest.
5. Radio is a way to go back& forth to the school.
6. Radio is better than newspaper.
7. Teaches students skills like advertising, Dying,technology.
8. Improve communications; bring out good things done by youth.
9. Make county aware of youth interests.
10. Bring students together to work on a beneficial project.
How & ideas:
1. Both variety of music and talk.
2. Possibilities for internships.
3. Different types of music -diverse.
4. Each day a different kind of music.
5. Find central location for both schools to broadcast and give both schools equal time on
the air.
6. Broadcast(news)teen-of-the-week or athlete-of-the-week or volunteer-of-the-week.
22
11. Parents: 1 Vote
Ideas for Parental Involvement:
1. Seminar for parents "Wake up call".
2. Many parents blind to problems -too proud to admit wrongs.
3. English composition to you parents-although some students wouldn't be comfortable
or even allowed to criticize their parents.
4. Educating young children about how to deal with and talk to their parents before they
reach teenage years.
5. Likewise, educate the parents in schools.
6. Have kids and teenagers hold a seminar, newsletters for parents rather than adults
doing it all.
7. Educational workshops for parents
8. Parent day.
9. Parent attends school with child if he/she is failing or skipping class.
10. Form an organization that includes parents,teachers, and students.
11. An assembly talking about general information on sex education, STD's &HIV/AIDS
-- split up into grade levels.
13. Children need support at home.
14. This is where it(morals)start: learn how to resolve problems before they're taken to
school.
15. Get more parents involved in schools and community.
23
RESOLUTION
YOUTH VOICES OF ORANGE COUNTY
WHEREAS, In fall 1995, representatives from Orange County, the Towns of
Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP),
UNC School of Social Work, students and teachers from Orange
High School and Chapel Hill High School, and agencies working
with youth, formed a steering committee entitled "Youth Voices of
Orange County"; and
WHEREAS, The steering committee convened two forums with over 100 high
school students to discuss the needs of area youth; and
WHEREAS, These meetings mark the first time youth from both Northern and
Southern Orange County have been together for such a purpose;
and
WHEREAS, From these discussions, the youth realized that they share similar
agendas and issues of concern regardless of their location in the
county; and
WHEREAS, The youths developed a list of(11) recommendations which they
consider to be priorities in addressing their needs; and
WHEREAS, The youths want to develop a formal mechanism to: ensure
continued communications between students in the two school
systems, and address these recommendations; and
WHEREAS, The youth recommend the formation of a Youth Council for
Orange County high school aged youths for the purposes of
providing leadership and service to the community; and
WHEREAS, In order to establish an effective youth council for Orange County,
the youth will require staff'support from each governmental agency,
as well as assistance from members of the private and non-profit
community.
NOW, THEREFORE, We, the members of the Orange County Assembly of
Governments, do hereby endorse the concept of establishing a
Youth Council, and agree to appoint staff representatives to review
the feasibility and develop an implementation plan.
This, the 30th day of May, 1996.
24
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Rosemary Waldorf, Mayor
Town of Chapel Hill
Michael R. Nelson, Mayor
Town of Carrboro
Horace Johnson, Mayor
Town of Hillsborough
25
APPENDIX
Chapel Hill High Participants Facilitators
Andrews, Sarah Rebecca Worley
Anselmann,Jordan Amy Cloud
Brown, Brian
Brown, Levonti Mike Allingham
Bylnski,Laureen David Zipper
Caldwell, Jason
Cryer, Emma Lily Farel
Eubanks, Bobby Angela Callanan
Glass, Alexandra
Glover, Sarah Brian Baucom
Hoke, Sarah Dierdre Mask
Jones, Brian
Layman,KT Kristin Smith
Leonard, Brooks Kim Dronzek
Lipper, Charles
Litwinski, Vanessa 5hyra Cooper
Loke, Catherine Erik Martin
Marks, Josh
Masci, Athena Iva Taylor
Muenzer, Chris Arie Farrar
Nicholson, Katy
Nguyen, Viet Leah Peterson
Riddle,Jeff Rudy Drakeford
Saleeby,Erin Robin Wallace
Saleeby, Taylor
Schrier, Star
Shapiro, Tyler
Strickland, Maurice
Smith, Susannah
Worley,Katherine
Zeisel, Kathy
26
Orange County Participants-
Allred, Jeff
Bailey, Tasha
Carmichael, Tiffany
Carter,Andy
Cheshire, Kevin
Cobb,Javon
Cooper, Tameka
Davis,Jamilla
Eubanks,Lavar
Freeland,Ebony
Gates,Jason
Harris,Mike
Horne,Andrea
Johnson, Jamellah
Johnson,Maurice
Kinney,Kristen
,x Kizer, Anna
Massey,Jenette
Mattewson,Krystal
McFalls,Benny
O'donnell,Andrea
Overaker,Jeremy
Parker, Tori
Pettiford, Antonio
Ray,Eric
Richmond,Andre
Torain, Eric
Tuck,Meredith
Walker, Chris
Watson, Wes
Warren,Jennifer
Williams, Joy
Goode, Steven
McPherson, Shenae
McPherson, Myra
Taylor,Eric
Walker,Mindy
Compton,Paula
Coble, Darin
Twombly,Dave
Coleman, Sara
Miller,Katherine
27
Mattison, Katrina
Hicks, Scott
Haverland, Amy
Vise,Andrea
Henry,Kourtney
Drowns, Angie
Farr,Mausi
Skidmore, Josh
Latta,Janet
Crawford,Flinn
Pearce,Lucy
Oakley, Alison
Jacobs,Roderick
Vates, (?)
Turner,Brandon
Beasley,Marquis
Boudwin,Jeff
Pulliam, Chris
Scott, Latoya
n Maid,Rachel
Vanhooker,Kimberly
Jackson, Jessica
Breen,Eva
Boudwin,Jade
Brown, Andre
Johnson,Joey
Lloyd,Brady
Young, Joe
Clark, Christina
28
Youth Voices of Orange County
Steering Committee
1995-1996
Youth Members:
Brian Baucom, CHHS
Paula Compton, OHS
Shenae McPherson, OHS
Katherine Miller, OHS
Eric Taylor, OHS
Terrill Thompson, OHS
David Zipper. CHHS
Adult Members:
sr
Beth Ansley, Advisor, CHHS
Myra Austin,Orange County Recreation and Parks
Esquirido Braddy, Student Government Advisor, OHS
Keith Cook, Orange County Board of Education
Phil Cooke, Public Private Partnership
Nate Davis, Human Services Advisory Commission
James Hester, Orange County Recreation and Parks
Robert Humphreys, Franklin Street Scene Teen Center
Verla Insko, Public Private Partnership .
Bob Jones, Orange County Recreation and Parks
Richard Kinney, Carrboro Recreation Department
Eileen Kugler, Human Services Advisory Commission
John Link, Orange County Government
Mike Loveman, Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation
Angenette McAdoo, Efland-Cheeks Community Center
Leigh Munley, Student Government Advisor, CHHS
Mark Rhodes, Youth Services Advisory Commission
Ginny Satterfield, Youth Services Advisory Commission
Sharron Siler, Orange County Government
Joan Uhrich, UNC School of Social Work
Mary Wallace, Franklin Street Scene Teen Center
Susan Worley, Volunteers for Youth
29
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Numerous need assessments on youth
may, have been and are being done by special
i lle Chapel Hill NeWS youth-serving programs. In 1988 the com-
Thursda November 23 1995: n"u"tY held a successful forum of youth
Thursday, > caretakers and youth-serving organiza-
tions. The forum identified and addressed
a number of youth issues.One recommen-
dation from this forum involved creating
Let's bring some form of representative youth council
or youth congress that could speak on
behalf of youth and represent their inter-
ests. In 1991 there was a community task
yo � n force that appraised and made recommen-
V dadons regarding youth violence in Chapel
Hill. One recommendation of this task
force was to create a youth services coordi-
nator position in the community to coordi-
nate the many youth service resources.
A product of the spring 1995 explo-
{
Invite youth to the community table? ration was a strong recommendation that
Ask them to develop and communicate any youth forum should be a forum of
community agendas? Ridiculous ! A and by youth instead of a forum on youth.
waste of time! Especially in a community . In other words, the forum should be
that has so many experts who earn then youth-planned and . directed. It also
living representing should be an opportunity for youth to
youth solutions or GUEST develop their own agendas and be able to
needs! Why not just communicate those agendas to communi-
i ask the experts? COLUMN ty leaders in a public manner. The agen-
Contrary to this das should be more focused on the com-
more traditional BY PHIL COOKE; munity than on school,and identify both
' practice of asking positive and negative concerns. The
Adult experts about forum would not be another need study,
youth, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro-Orange but would explore how youth could part-
County Public-Private Partnership (PPP); ner with the community.
t is exploring ways and mechanisms that' The organizing and planning of the
the youth of. our communities can bg youth forum is now under way. Former
engaged to communicate their concerns county commissioner and PPP board
and issues.It is an exciting venture! member Verla Insko is coordinating the
In October 1994, members of PPP trav initiative.Graduate School of Social Work
r eled to Bloomington,Ind.,to explore tha4 intern Joan Uhrich is staffing the effort.
community's programs and approaches Local businessman Mark Rhodes is pro-
that addressed youth.The trip also served viding the training and technical support
as an opportunity for local citizens an4 needed for a youth-directed canvas and
t
community leaden to examine how we a� agenda building process.
a community (or communities) address The Chapel Hill-Orange County com-
youth issues and concerns.' 1 munity is blessed with many resources
Many of us were impressed with`ho,,,W not found in other communities of similar
well Bloomington had engaged its youth iri size or otherwise. Present in the commu-
the planning and operation of youth pro, I nity is a large youth-serving industry.
grams and services. Citizens;'youth carei Many persons earn their living creating
takers and youth had developed a kind and real or symbolic products for youth or
quality of partnership that was very attract youth-serving enterprises.The communi-
five.In response to these observations,ou; ty also is known for its academic and sci-
local delegation made the decision tq entific contributions. Both of these arenas
explore ways we as a community can follow the principle of objectification —
enhance our partnership with youth i separating subject and object for under-
During last spring, meetings were held standing and experimentation.
with a wide range of youth-serving orga; At the collective level there is often the
nizations and professionals concerning the tendency to regard youth as objects of
sponsorship of some type of youth forum; inquiry, recipients of programs, or as a
PPP board member Bill Farley also held 4 population in trouble.Added to this is the
number of meetings with parent groups reality that a sizable portion of our com-
and school officials. This exploration fol' munity population is trained to solve
lowed the principle that any forum spon, problems and communicate ideas or solu-
sored by PPP should build upon prior and tions, rather than to listen. (This adds up
existing efforts by the community td to a situation where many people repre-
appraise youth issues. Another principle sent youth with many different and com-
guiding the exploration was that a youth peting agendas.) Can we as a community
forum did not have to be a problem-ori- create an opportunity for youth to be
ented affair but could be an opportunity to heard? I think ive can and so does PPP! I )
identify and affirm community strengths.
� Phil Cooke is n professor in the ZINC School
31 r Sc rinl i��•i: