<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"> <TBODY> <TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"> <TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Please, see attachment. Holyoke girls need you help. </TD></TR> <TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"> <TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> <DIV id=hotbar_promo></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <BLOCKQUOTE id=98e7243c><BR><BR><B><I>jkumble <jkumble@ci.holyoke.ma.us></I></B> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Hi Folks,<BR><BR>Our Neighborhood Kick Off meeting last Thursday night went well! Over thirty people attended, and we had great facilitation by Heidi Thomson and excellent panel moderation by Paul Hyry. Folks ate dinner together and discussed at various tables the strengths and challenges of their
neighborhood. A panel of one youth and two adults also discussed strengths and challenges. Then the group learned a little about science based strategies, and came up with some strategies of their own that they would like to work on. The event was covered by Channel 22, the Republican, and El Dialogo.<BR><BR>The possible strategies are listed below. I will be convening another Communities That Care meeting within the next couple of weeks for the large group to look at city-wide prevention strategies while this neighborhood group moves forward with its geographic-specific strategies. (Their next meeting is scheduled for June 8.) I will get back to you about a date and location, but am aiming to have it at Lynch Middle School so we can involve some of the residents we have gotten to know, including Principal Hyry. Stay tuned!<BR><BR>Possible Strategies Identified at May 11. Keep in mind that the meeting was short and not all folks know what is already is
available.<BR><BR>Strategies that fall under Neighborhood Unity <BR>*Trash can murals<BR>*Police/Youth Basketball<BR>*Staff the park<BR><BR>Strategies that fall under Increased Connections with Schools<BR>*Superintendent connections<BR>*Afterschool activities at 3:30-5:30<BR>*Family nights<BR>*Find mentors by engaging parents<BR>*Holyoke High and Dean Tech students doing community service, ie, Upward Bound students<BR>*Mediation program at Lynch<BR><BR>Other Strategies<BR>*Increase communication between youth and police<BR>*Youth adopting the park, as is happening in the Flats<BR>*Finding a community room for youth and adults to meet (West Street)<BR>or in school<BR>*Bring some of the great programs that are happening "down the hill" up the hill to this area<BR>*Create a directory of activities, mailed out in English and Spanish, of activities available in the city and tips that families can do with their children at
home<BR><BR><BR><BR>______________________________________<BR>Julie Kumble, Coordinator<BR>Holyoke Youth Task Force & Youth Commission<BR>Holyoke Planning Department, Rm. 409<BR>City Hall Annex<BR>Holyoke, MA 01040<BR>(413) 322-5578 Phone<BR>(413) 322-5576 Fax<BR>www.youthtaskforce.org <BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>
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