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Minutes 05-19-10 MINUTES OF THE YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROJECT MEETING HELD ON MAY 19, 2010, AT 5:30 P.M. AT THE CAROLYN SIMS CENTER, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Jose Rodriguez, Chair Frank Ireland Vickie Henderson Sgt. Gladys Cannon Vinola Rada Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director ABSENT: James Kidd Nate Nichols Buck Buchanan Steve Waldman Katrina Holder Doris Jackson I. Welcome and Opening Comments - Jose Rodriguez, Chairman Chair Rodriguez welcomed all to the meeting and called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. II. Roll Call Silent roll call was taken. III. Introduction of Guests Michael Low, Deputy Director of Utilities, was present as a volunteer. Frank Ireland, Sims Center Supervisor, was also introduced. IV. Approval and/or additions to the Agenda - Jose Rodriguez None. 1 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 V. Approval and/or additions to the minutes of January 13, 2010 and March 17, 2010 There was one change made to the March 17, 2010 meeting, which was Wally Majors was not present at the meeting. On a different matter, Ms. Rada commented she was not notified of either of those two meetings. Ms. Rada liked the email notification followed by a phone call. She thought the process was good. Motion Mr. Buchanan moved to approve the minutes as amended. Ms. Henderson seconded the motion that unanimously passed. VI. Chairman's Comments VII. Old Business A. Program Marketing Virginia Shea, Senior Recreation Manager, explained Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director, requested she work with Ms. Henderson to help market some of the programs, and to develop a marketing plan. The draft plan was distributed to the members for review. Ms. Shea highlighted the program's mission, organizational values, the purpose of the strategy, the benefits, the target market and the types of marketing strategies to be used. She created principals to guide the marketing of the programs and a conclusion. She emphasized the document was a draft, and it could be changed or amended as needed. The YVPP program was advertised in Funfare Magazine; the Open House event was advertised on the new Facebook account; they were using BBTV messages; the City's website under Recreation and Parks; and various other methods to market the program and get the information out. Flyers were placed at all recreational facilities, the library, and other facilities outside the Center to further market the program. Ms. Shea expressed she thought the Open House had a good turnout through the methods they used. It was a no-money marketing effort, and she explained any suggestions were welcome. Sergeant Cannon commented the Ezell Hester Center receives a lot of calls for the information posted on the marquee. It was suggested the staff investigate whether the large marquee by City Hall could be used. Ms. Rada reviewed the marketing plan and believed the Mission Statement should send a message regarding what it was doing. Ms. Rada felt it was more of an introduction. 2 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 The Board may want to consider developing a Mission Statement or eliminate it from the document and have an overview. The members had previously discussed reaching out and using the program as an alternative to dismissing or suspending high school students; however, there were already existing programs. Sergeant Cannon had spoken with Mr. Clemons, the Assistant Principal at Boynton Beach Community High School and the School Board Police about the program. One of the officers was very familiar with the program. Keith Oswald, the Principal; Steve Waldman, Chair of the Education and Youth Advisory Board; and Officer Thompson were also familiar with the program. After discussion, it was agreed Mr. Majors would write to the principal, Officer Thompson, and Assistant Principal Clemons and a meeting would be scheduled. Sergeant Cannon had been distributing information about the program at the school to the Guidance Counselors and front desk. She also handed-out information to the students; however, she did not have a written report documenting the number of youth referred to the program. Chair Rodriguez recommended staff develop a partnership agreement that could be shared with Atlantic and Santaluces High Schools, starting the program at Boynton Beach Community High School. It was noted the program was reaching out to Boynton Beach High School specifically and could reach out to any other entity as suggested. After a brief discussion, there was agreement to include Congress and Galaxy Elementary Schools in the effort. VIII. New Business None. IX. Update YVPP A. Recruitment Campaign (Open House and Registration Update) Chair Rodriguez discussed part of the marketing effort included generating excitement from the program's accomplishments and letting members know what was happening at the Center. i.e. youth participated in the Mayor's walk or a participant won an award. The members agreed to meet every 45 days contingent on effective communication skills. Several youth from the Youth Violence Prevention Program signed up for the Mayor's Walk, but only three of them participated; the rest did not show. Chair Rodriguez inquired how the program was teaching youth accountability. He felt there had to be some consequence for the youth that do not follow through. Ms. Henderson responded all of the programs were volunteer programs and explained youth sign up for programs they did not always participate in every week. They could not force the participants to come. This occurred with Ms. Rada in the past with a 3 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 youth trip. There was a disconnection between the administration of the program and the Board. Another example given was from a prior meeting. There was discussion the Teen Council was to use Robert's Rules or Order for their meetings. Chair Rodriguez read the minutes from the Teen Council meeting and learned the youth felt the rules were too cumbersome. He pointed out the comment was a directive, not an option. Accordingly, he requested a meeting with the Chair and Vice Chair about using Robert's Rules. Chair Rodriguez also commented they were notified by the County there was no funding next year for the program, which meant the City had to sustain it. The Criminal Justice Commission observed the program was deteriorating. Sergeant Cannon indicated the program had a tremendous turnaround documented by the numbers and the participation in classes. Youth were attending the programs even after sitting in school all day. The program needed to be sold to the public and there were innovative ways to do so. Chair Rodriguez had always wanted to hold a fund-raiser. To hold a successful event; however, the attendees had to be excited about the program. If the Board was engaged, the program and its results could be publicized. If a participant won an award, the Board could call the press, or put out a release. Mr. Majors explained Ms. Shea made a strong commitment to assist in the effort. His perception was the Department worked very hard and engaged the Board. The challenge was the perception of the program. He defended the Boynton Beach program and maintained it should not be construed as ineffective. Staff was already improving its marketing, but he was upset that individuals outside the program painted the program in a negative light. There was discussion the County did not want to fund the program because the City had not contributed any money to it. Mr. Majors pointed out the Carolyn Sims facility was developed with recreation in mind. While it replaced the Wilson Center the City made a significant in-kind commitment to the program through the use of the building, which was the Youth Empowerment Center. The efforts staff put forth should not be negated. Chair Rodriguez urged the Board and staff to communicate better. They needed to hold a fundraiser and build a strong Board. He encouraged staff to issue emails on a weekly basis highlighting the noteworthy accomplishments to generate interest in the program. The program started out with a strong Board, but participation waned. Michael Low, Deputy Director of Utilities, Boynton Beach, serves as a volunteer at the Center two or three nights a week. He gave a brief summary of his observations which are listed below. 4 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 1) Mr. Low started with the program last year. The program was running well, but then there was an issue with the funding and the activity nearly ceased. The program was revived and many programs were offered. 2) The program was misunderstood: It was not a recreation program, although recreation was a small part of the program. He noted the youth did not have anyone at home to do anything with them. He referenced Maltavious, who had no parents and nobody to help him and he just won an award. His brother was in the Utilities Work Skills program and was in the same situation. Programs offered through the Center were needed. 3) Mr. Low was taking some of the youth to thank a contributor for the Work Skills Program donation, when he found out the youth signed up for the Mayor's Walk and did not attend. He spoke to them about it to instill those values. 4) As for money, Mr. Low knew individuals who would help support the program. This was important because the grant would not allow them to support the Work Skills program. Some of the youth were now graduating from the program and turned their lives around. He noted by promoting the program, the American Public Works Association donated $6,000 and other engineering entities could contribute as well. He was concerned and wanted the program to continue. Chair Rodriguez explained the program was there to build character and integrity. As to how to instill accountability, Mr. Low advised the youth in the Work Skills program that if they did not attend the program, they would not be paid. There was a great deal of discussion about individuals on the Board. Chair Rodriguez explained if the Board builds enthusiasm, they may be able to re-engage the members. They could also obtain new members. It was noted there were activities the Board members wanted to do to help the students. X. New Business None. XI. Update of transfer of YVPP to Recreation & Parks (Wally Majors) A. Recruitment Campaign (Open House and registration update) Ms. Henderson reported about 65 people attended the open house and 24 registered. It was a great event. To-date, about 95 youth were registered. The event was held in conjunction with the Workforce Alliance, who referred youth and parents to the program. 5 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 The Teen Council was also supportive of recruiting their classmates and having them register. Mr. Low campaigned for about $8,500 to employ youth who participated in the employment skills program. Staff would interview three volunteers from the Utility Department and interview 10 of the youth and hire 7 of them. The youth would receive a stipend of $35 a day, beginning June 8, 2010. They would work 9 weeks during the summer. A Star Teen program was created through Ted Williams who contributed $25 per month for Teen of the Month program and they solicited an organization who would give $300 for Teen of the Year. Chair Rodriguez explained the City of Boynton Beach employees could adopt a kid for $10 per month and build a relationship. He noted there were many endeavors they could undertake. He thanked Ms. Henderson for a good job. Ms. Henderson explained Martavious Barber won the Stop the Violence contest and was Teen of the Month for the month of April. The activities the youth participated in were listed on the handout. The participation rate was good: approximately 120 youth out of 150 participated in at least one program. Chair Rodriguez commented if they started a kid's support program and announced it at the City Commission, the press would publicize the story. B. Service Provider Presentations The Board had previously discussed they should meet with all the providers. There was agreement the providers would make a two-minute presentation. As they made their presentations, they could review the contract descriptions. The following individuals made presentations and provided a brief background or success story: Florida Fishing Academv. This provider formerly taught the Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs program. The new program focused on angling for a healthier lifestyle. They would be incorporating life skills into the program centering on the marine industries and other marine careers. They mentor the students and log hours, helping them to attend captain's school. JazzArt. This program taught music and music production. It incorporated life skills such as math and fractions through the music. The youth worked in pairs. The program focused on accountability and students had projects to complete. One finished product was "Pants on the Ground". The effort required recording, editing, and audio skills. This program was $28,000. The provider grew up in New York City in a bad high school. A music teacher recognized his talent and transferred him to LaGuardia School of the Arts. From there, he made a success of his life. 6 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 Lamplighters. This program taught employment and life skills. It focused on interviewing techniques, applications and how to handle different situations while on the job. Attendees are taught to arrive on time and how to deal with drugs, sex, and other current issues. The program had character and integrity modules, emphasizing trust and character building. It assisted the participants with handling stereotypes and perceptions. The teacher was currently a program director at the Beacon Center who grew up in Boynton Beach and was a juvenile delinquent and teen parent. He overcame his circumstances and was still pursuing avenues to help him succeed in life. Sisters to Sisters. The program was a female mentoring group that met every Monday and the 1st and 4th Wednesdays of the month. The focus was on mentoring the youth and pairing them up with older females to work on self esteem, image and self-worth, abstinence, etiquette, social skills, dating and life enrichments. The choices they make would last a lifetime and they need to know how to survive in the real world and expose them to it. Four books were used, one of which was Always Sisters. Another book used was Success for Teens. The program teamed up with Teen Time, the Girl Scouts local organizations, and the Kravitz and Broward Centers. Of special note were two young ladies from the program, who due to their academics and community service, were selected for a leadership program in Senagal, Africa for two months. Additionally, they made a DVD through the Art of Filmmaking. Art is Motivation. The program basics were to build confidence in the youth. Several of the students in the program were not proficient in the arts. The students participated in painting, drawing, photography and rap was incorporated into the program. The students worked on projects such as album covers, CD's, online advertising, and posters and stationary packages. The provider had always liked art and he won many awards. At school, students would see his work and pay him to draw them. He continued on with Art at high school and took an Advanced Placement portfolio class. His teacher inspired him to stay with art as opposed to sports. He went to IFAX and then AIU. It was his student, who won the Stop the Violence award. Another participant came to the program more frequently than the others. The students started off with not having basic structure. He let them do their own thing, then showed them a better way. Computer Concepts. The class taught the participants technology and focused on computer repair and design. The idea was to give students a hands-on approach to build and repair computers. They strive to teach students to own their own computer repair business and how to purchase computers. A web-design component was also included. Some of the youth in the YVPP Riviera Beach Center were starting websites. Some students received A+ Certification to work on computers, and several youth, who did not have computers, repaired them and were able to keep them to assist with their 7 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 Chair Rodriguez explained the City's older computers were sent to the School Board. He offered, if computers were needed, to bring it to the City Commission and they could assist the program. To receive a computer, they looked for youth attendance and students who go beyond the call of duty. Some of the youth in the middle and after-school programs might have a behavior problem. Once engaged in a project the youth liked, their behaviors changed. Students were encouraged to become their own entrepreneur and create. their own opportunities. Leesha Roundtree provided tutorial services. She was a lifelong resident of Boynton Beach and began tutoring May 2010. Last year, she took students on their first college tour to three schools in Florida. She hoped to hold other college tours and workshops in the future. She focus was to assist students with their homework, but she mostly tutored Algebra 1 and Geometry homework. She tutored 3 or 4 students per day, at the high school level. It was noted there was a tutoring center at the Hester Center by another provider. Since the college tour, some of the youth felt they were interested in college, who previously did not think college was an option for them. She encouraged the youth to pursue a secondary education. She intended to measure the success of the program through student grades and comparisons. As a teacher, Ms. Roundtree was able to communicate to the teachers about how the students were doing in class. Ms. Henderson explained the PAL program wanted to continue the tutoring through-out the summer. There were many youth who played sports under the program and when they were registered, they agreed to provide their grades. If the students did not achieve the grades, then they could not play. PAL had over 100 kids between the cheerleading and football program. Progress could be measured during the summer by pre-test scores and tracking the pre-test and post-test scores. The analysis would be provided at the end of the summer. Ms. Roundtree would be available at the begining of the school year also. The tutoring would be advertised. C. Provider Contracts A potential provider. Ms. King, was waiting to be heard. Mr. Majors requested the Board approve the service provider agreements. As to Ms. King, there was no agreement with her, but the members could hear the presentation. Chair Rodriguez requested a motion to approve the providers that were being proposed. 8 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 Motion Ms. Henderson moved to approve. Ms. Rada seconded the motion. The motion passed. E. Ultimate Pro Sports Academy New Partner for free program (Heard out of Order) Corey Riley of the Sports Academy explained they are having zoning issues. They needed a location that could accommodate a building they planned to construct and they looked at a few different properties. Mr. Majors suggested Mr. Riley contact him for further assistance. It was also noted the City was now re-classifying sports/athletic centers to be allowed in different zoning areas. It was pointed out the brokers may not know about the change in zoning. Mr. Riley was supposed to make a presentation about partnering professional athletic training. They offered their services for free for intervention if the center would bus the youth to them. Currently, they go school to school and they were working at Heritage, Boca Raton, Delray Beach and various other schools. Minerva "Minnie" King - Florida Community Alliance explained the organization was a mental health corporation that collaborated with law enforcement to help local at-risk or youth referred to them through the court system. She noted mental health services would only help them for so long. Every other week, they provide mentor training trips and they visit different establishments in the community that were appropriate for the skills they were trying to instill in the youth. There were five components to the program. The component discussed by Ms. King pertained to when a child was sanctioned by the court to attend anger management classes, counseling for substance abuse or consequences of crime, and life skills training. She commented if the youth did not have goals or parents that did not receive counseling, the outcome would only be short term. The program was comprised of a 12 and 14-week course paid for by the participants. Presently, 80% of the youth have no insurance or ability to pay, but the Alliance finds a way to pay. The four-hour groups for the sanctioned youth cost $30 and then $10 each time thereafter. The Alliance conducts drug testing. If a participant tested negative, there would be no charge for the test. If they tested positive, they would be required to pay. If the participant could not afford to pay for the test and they had a positive test result, they would work at the office on a variety of tasks. The Community Alliance was a non-profit 501 (c)3 Corporation. The participants' required community service hours spent with the Community Alliance was not comprised of sweeping floors. It was to start learning life and work skills. It was noted most of the Alliance's workers were the kids. 9 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 The Community Alliance operates from North Palm Beach and they service all of Palm Beach County. They wanted to establish a Boynton Beach location because, in addition to the youth from Boynton Beach that had to attend the program, they also had a great deal of police officer volunteers and mentors. Those youth had to travel from Boynton Beach to North Palm and a closer location was needed. The hours needed for the 12-week program was for two hours, after school, once during the week, and four hours on Saturday. Weekday hours could be 3-5 p.m. or 5-7 p.m. There was no set time. The programs could be back-to-back. Ms. King noted there were 18 youth from Boynton Beach that needed to attend. During the summer, they needed meeting space once a week for six hours, for example, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the meeting location needed to be large enough to accommodate 10 to 12 participants in a classroom setting. They would also need a meeting location two Saturdays a month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mr. Majors explained there were two other providers, one of which was Mental Health Initiatives. Ms. King offered to collaborate with them in order to avoid duplication of services. The program was a gang and youth-offender program. Ms. King left information with the Board. She explained she was involved in this endeavor for seven years. The mentoring program began in December 2008, and they were now starting to write grants. Ms. King was a mental health social worker who recently passed the test to be a licensed clinical social worker. She, along with other mental health workers and law enforcement, was involved in the program. The program was in place at other locations, such as churches and schools, in Jupiter and Martin Counties, and they offered rehabilitative, job-skills and re-entry programs. Officer Britto, a Community Alliance volunteer, explained he volunteered on his time-off. He accompanies Ms. King when a home visit is made in order to engage the family. Ms. King commented they have 26 law enforcement officers volunteering their time and she advised Eckerd would be referring several more youth to the program. She emphasized the youth that would be attending the program would be local youth and one of the goals of the program was to keep the youth within the community Chair Rodriguez explained he would like to assist the effort and thanked Ms. King and Officer Britto for the presentation. D. New YEC Staff Positions Mr. Majors explained they were trying to add part-time staff positions to assist with the day-to-day activities. They were waiting on the formal approval of the position from Ms. Oakes. Once received, they could advertise the position and move forward. Ms. 10 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, FL May 19, 2010 Henderson provided a brief description of the positions, which were for an Administrative Associate, a Recreation Specialist, and a Teen Specialist. There was brief discussion on whether to use the funds for part-time positions or for a provider. It was noted with the summer, they have expanded hours and additional help would be needed. E. Ultimate Pro Sports Academy New Partner for free program This item was addressed earlier in the meeting. F. Grants Update A brief summary of what staff was doing was provided. They were pursuing grants, one of which as a sub-grantee. The grants were long-shots, but the initiative was worth the effort. It was noted Mark Fling was looking for space at the center. Chair Rodriguez encouraged staff and the members to tell someone about every thing that was positive about the program. The success stories were opportunities to create excitement and he urged all to keep working hard. He recognized the program was short staffed and indicated they would keep Ms. Shea engaged. XIV. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 7:43 p.m. {!~ ~ln.A1J/ Catherine Cherry . -- - 1 Recording Secretary 062210 11