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Focus Group Response <br /> On January 31st, over 110 youths from Orange County came together at Orange <br /> United Methodist Church to discuss issues pertaining to youth. The group was <br /> organized by a steering committee(Youth Voices of Orange County) made up of <br /> youth and adult community representatives from all over Orange County. The <br /> purpose of the January 31st meeting was to form youth led focus groups to <br /> determine the importance of issues involving youths in the county. Questions for the <br /> 14 focus groups which met that day were designed by the steering committee <br /> members. The following is a summary of the findings of the focus groups and their <br /> primary recommendations for change. <br /> Youth Voices of Orange County <br /> Report of State of the Youth <br /> Community <br /> Question 1 <br /> ,ry Do you feel a responsibility to improve your community? If so,how can you go about <br /> doing this? If no,why not? <br /> The responses show no clear perception of youths'personal responsibility for <br /> improving the community. There appears to be a sense of lack of control and knowledge <br /> as to how to go about taking on responsibility. The responses show the youths' <br /> willingness to be responsible if told how. <br /> Question 2: <br /> What new and exciting things would you like to see happen in your community that <br /> involve or affect teenagers? <br /> There were many suggestions given on new and exciting things that might happen in <br /> the county involving youths. These suggestions centered around participation in youth <br /> activities-- recreational and community service. <br /> The four top prioritized suggestions were: <br /> 1. Take on projects, a culture fest, special events, pep rallies, concerts with different <br /> bands, 4-H, go to elementary schools, clean up roads, interaction between elemen- <br /> tary schools,volunteer programs,pool hall, other sports, combining sports, need <br /> a disco or a dance club. <br /> 2. Students sit in on School Board-- same privileges as School Board(offer <br /> suggestions or opinions.) <br /> 3. Dance clubs (for teens under 21)basket ball, drama clubs, etc. <br /> 4. Place where people from Chapel Hill and Hillsborough and other communities <br /> could come together and hangout. Abetter community center— not just sports, <br /> but arcade,pool room, etc. <br /> 4 <br />