Agenda - 03-04-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 By June 1991, PPOD will have conducted at least 75 workshops in 3 -5 housing projects and community centers for groups of 5 -20 adolescents. Boys and girls ages 9--17 will participate in these programs, which are known as "Teen Talk." During the first eleven months of the Minority Involvement Project, we have identified and begun programs at three housing projects (Ridgefield and Airport Gardens in Chapel Hill, and Oakwood in Carrboro); met individually with 97 parents; presented 43 programs to 489 boys and girls; and sponsored 2 health fairs attended by over 100 subsidized housing communities residents. To date, we have reached 680 adults and youth. "Teen Talk" programs have dealt with a variety of issues. At three sessions, the boys and girls watched movies and videos, and listened to popular songs, with an eye (and ear) towards identifying gender stereotyping and sexual irresponsibility. The boys and girls at Ridgefield got a boost to their group comraderie and individual self- esteem by organizing a successful health fair in their community. As "Teen Talk" has progressed, we have identified objectives and techniques that needed refining. For instance, we have learned that 19 -20 week series, and not the seven -week series originally planned, are necessary to establish trust and rapport with the participants and to adequately cover the topics being discussed. Additionally, we have had to be very creative in designing our programs. It has become apparent that an interactive, hands -on approach works best with these hard -to -reach boys and girls. Strict adherence to a regimented, school - oriented curriculum would be inappropriate and unfruitful. Lastly, we have learned not to try to enforce strict age divisions in our programs. For example, including 11- or 12 -year olds in a program for 13- and 14 -year olds encourages peer education within the group. Because one of "Teen Talk's" goals is helping adolescents set goals and stay in school, project coordinator Lechelle Wilson organized a tutorial program at Ridgefield and Airport Gardens. The tutors are all UNC students, and mostly members of the service fraternities Omega Psi Phi and Alpha Phi Alpha and the service sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. The tutors serve as role models for the project participants, as well as helping them with their homework and reading skills. We have learned not to underestimate the concern of the parents for their children and their willingness to help with the project. This concern is most evident in the success of "Positive Force Parents," a second component of the Minority Involvement Project.