« say it ain't so ben! |
home
| posting here a lot »
Friday, 11 August 06 ::
Working hard for Our Place
Teens and adults partner to bring teen center to reality
by Terra Williams
At 10 minutes 'til 9 am, Saturday, July 22, I arrive at 10th and Oak with a box of food in my arms. Corey, one of Nuestro Lugar/Our Place Teen Center's newest members, walks with me down Oak Alley. It's 70 degrees and misting. We are thankful to be working before the heat catches up with the day.
Vehicles are parked before the open door of our new home, and we spot John Critelli of Essex Construction by the parking meter, sporting a blue LEAD T-shirt. He shakes our hands and introduces us to his associates and his daughter, Francesca. A crew from Rainbow Valley discusses the work ahead. Inside the 1,008 sq. ft. space lies a pile of bricks. Pipes, rugs and cylinders lie askew on the right side of the building. Brooms and garbage cans also occupy the area, and we head inside, bringing ladders and another garbage can. Shortly after Corey and I begin, Marie arrives with her father, and they immediately clock in. Itziri Moreno and Itahi Diaz, Nuestro Lugar co-coordinators, come in, ready to work.
In the spring of 2005, LEAD (Leadership, Adventure, Education and Direction, a non-profit organization for low-income youth) held a forum at the Eugene Public Library. Adults and teens grouped together and formed lists of specific services and activities people wanted to see inside a teen center. We youth requested a variety of services, but what impressed me the most was that other teens wanted to learn how to empower themselves.
Day in and day out, teens are faced with low expectations. Our opinions not taken seriously, we eventually grow into believing that we have little value and give in to the standards society has awaiting us. I'm speaking from personal experience and observance. Dyed hair, piercings and androgynous clothing style: my physical appearance apparently screams "bad influence." Family members don't appreciate my opinionated side and label it "an attitude."
Teens are a "problem" everywhere. A new invention from England drives "loitering" teens away from businesses. The device, also known as the Mosquito, is a high-pitch frequency wave that only young people can hear; it gives us a headache and sends us away. The frequency maneuver, referred to by some as a human dog whistle, has become wildly popular with business owners across the globe. When I heard it, my headache lasted for 10 minutes. The term "human dog whistle" dehumanizes me and my fellow youth.
Not only am I a teen, but I am also low income. Being low income leaves me with little to do, since almost everything costs. And I'm not alone in that situation; this is what many teens face every day. I'm thankful to have a safe place to go at the end of the day, but some teens don't have that luxury. Seeing our challenges inspires me and gives me a motive to work hard. I want to give teens leadership and positive choices. I want to show everyone what youth are capable of. The other teens at the forum felt the same.
Later that year, the Nuestro Lugar/Our Place Teen Center committee kicked off. We met at Centro LatinoAmericano and formed partnerships with Juventud FACETA (a Latino youth group that focuses on immigrants' rights), and YAB (Youth Action Board, a group of youth that focuses on community issues). The teens and adults met, debated, voted and took everything seriously. Teens spoke their opinions and came to consensus. Youth leadership is what makes this so unique. The youth take the lead, and our adult allies are careful not to push their own ideals upon us. Our respect for each other is sincere.
We decided to begin sending out the word, requesting a home. We forged on to city meetings. I'll never forget our first appearance at the mayor's Sustainable Business Initiative open forum at Kalapuya High. A couple of the Nuestro Lugar teens suggested spreading out to every group. We agreed, and as each group presented its ideas, the majority of the group's speakers were Nuestro Lugar teens, and a teen center was on everyone's top three list. We then attended City Council meetings, promising to return until our needs were met. We held trainings, met with business owners and commissioners and wrote grants, one proposal after the next. We gained partnerships and sponsors.
What we were missing was adult support outside of the social service system. Some adults worried a place that attracted teens would repel business customers. At a safety council meeting, we teens were referred to as "the problem." Some said that teens would slow down the process of the center should we have equal voting power in meetings. I felt that no one was taking us seriously. However, we continued our work. We familiarized ourselves with the City Council, did research and conducted surveys, tightening loose ends. After meeting with us, downtown businessman John Brown and DEI's Russ Brink began to support our efforts. Finally, the city gave us the space behind the Samurai Duck. This was our day to clean it out.
"I'm happy to see the support we have [today]. It's a challenge when people don't believe in us," Itahi Diaz notes after our work is finished for the day. We look at the bare walls and smile. I feel proud. I feel strength in the group and in myself. For the past year, I've laughed during meetings, worked my brain in the office and cried when all felt hopeless. But I know this isn't hopeless. I am proud to work with teens and adults who are dedicated and passionate, challenging society's expectations and bravely stepping up to the challenge. It's these reasons that I stay and work feverishly on such a large project. I might laugh at the next meeting. I might cry. All I know is that we're not finished. Together, we work and tell ourselves that we deserve this. As we say at the end of our meetings, "Todos unidos in Our Place. Together united en Nuestro Lugar."
Terra Williams, a LEAD volunteer and Teen Center fundraising coordinator, is a recent graduate of Churchill Alternative High and plans to major in journalism at the UO. To get involved with LEAD or Nuestro Lugar, go to leadteen.com or call 342-TEEN (8336).
posted by brooke at August 11, 2006 10:53 AM
