Teens Speak Up About Dropout Crisis

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Allison Williams

In partnership with the Nine Network and their national American Graduate initiative Wyman teens participated in a “Teen Town Hall” to discuss the high school drop-out crisis facing the St. Louis community and communities across the country.

Rising 8^th, 9^th, and 12^th graders in Wyman’s Teen Leadership Program (TLP) spent well over an hour discussing what they see happening with high school drop-out in their schools and communities, why teens drop-out, and what can be done to address the situation. Teens discussed the role that all people play in helping curb this crisis – teens themselves, families, teachers, community organizations, and even community members and neighbors. We had many teens who spoke from their personal perspectives – as children of immigrants or other family members who did not finish high school – they see it as their responsibility to change this pattern, and become a role model and example for their siblings and others in their schools.

Teen Town Hall, Wyman Center, Kling Hall

When asked what can be done as a solution, there was such an interesting theme in their responses. No one said they needed better buildings, better computers, or better books. Their common response was that the solution was in relationships and support.

Teens need opportunities to be motivated, to see and understand why education is important, and to have adults in their lives who consistently remind them of that and support them in this process. Several teens also discussed the role that Wyman programs play in keeping teens motivated, connected, and successful. Their comments and reflections reinforced the very, very important work that we are doing at Wyman.

It was an honor for me to sit and listen to our young people discuss this topic. There was no complaining, blaming, or finger-pointing, but rather a discussion about what they really see happening, and how they can be part of a solution.

Special kudos to our TLP Director Tim Kjellesvik for brilliantly facilitating the conversation and the whole TLP team for pulling this off. Most importantly, thanks to our teen panelists who shared with honesty and integrity, as well as our audience members who had more to say than we could fit into the time allotted!

This experience was symbolic to me of the work our Wyman team does day in and day out to improve the odds for young people. We must listen to our young people, and engage them as part of the solution. They have much to add, they have important perspectives, and they must be involved in the change process. We have a myriad of ideas and programs and proposals about solutions – but the clear message from our teens is that all of that work floats on a base foundation of having supports and relationships, and people who set standards and expectations that they can achieve. Let’s be sure not to forget that critical, critical foundation.

If you want to learn more about the drop-out crisis, please visit www.americangraduate.org. Wyman is proud to be working with the local initiative to help our community recognize that this is an issue for us all.

Allison Williams, MSW, LCSW
Sr. VP, Wyman Center St. Louis

Get a glimpse of the live discussion by searching #TeenTownHall on Twitter.

See photos from the Teen Town Hall courtesy of Nine Network / Jason Winkeler Photography on our Facebook page.

Putting Your Best Face Forward Online

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Emily Pirraglia

Likes, status updates, tweets, and friend requests: if you’re familiar with any of these terms then you—like most teenagers in America—are using social media. According to a study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, 95 percent of US teens aged 12-17 are online and 80 percent of these connected teens use social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter.

You probably cannot recall a time before the internet or social networking. Social media is the norm when it comes to sharing thoughts, opinions, pictures, videos and links with your friends.

But keep in mind; it’s not always just your friends who can see what you post!

College admissions counselors and employers are beginning to use social networking sites as a way to assess your communication skills, values, and personal life to see if you’ll be a good fit at their college or company. And, since privacy features on Facebook are constantly changing, your content may be visible for anyone to search and see. For both Twitter and Facebook, this means that your posts and pictures could show up when someone searches your name in Google.

Here’s the good news: you do have control over what you post. Be aware, take your time, use good judgment, and think before you make anything public. You are your own personal publicist, and have the power to mold your online presence to be a positive or negative one. Posting a negative comment about a teacher or school and uploading photos depicting questionable behavior will, ultimately, negatively impact how people perceive you. And unlike a comment said out loud, your activity on social media can live a long time, online.

Make some rules about what you’ll post online, and then actually follow them! Would you talk that way to a teacher? Show that picture to your aunt or uncle? Share that information with your boss? Social media is a place to have fun and interact with friends, but keep in mind the consequences of these actions in the offline world.

Think long-term when posting online content. What you put on the internet isn’t easily erased, and can remain attached to your name for years to come. Even if you plan to delete it later –someone else could re-tweet or share it, and then it is out of your control. If you have any uncertainty about what you’re about to do, then don’t do it!

Finally, use social media to your advantage. Deciding to use social networking sites is not a foolish choice. By remaining aware of your posts—and even what your friends are writing on your wall—you have the ability to put forth your best qualities. Tailoring your online presence in a way that represents yourself positively will give you a leg up on others by appealing to future employees and schools.

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We’d like to hear your thoughts about social media. Is it fair for employers and college admissions counselors to check applicants’ social media profiles, or should teens get a break? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below.

Teens Address Violence in their Community

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Emily Pirraglia

Through our programs, Wyman constantly seeks to hear the concerns and voices of our teens. The following piece presents some opinions of teens in Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP) who face violence in their community on a daily basis.

On a sunny day in North St. Louis City, teens in Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP) gathered together at the Julia Davis Library to participate in a community discussion that focused on the violence in their community.

Teen Outreach Program teens discuss violence

Jojo no longer wants to live with her area’s daily crime. A teen in Wyman’s TOP through the Youth and Family Center, she was one of about twenty young people who attended the community forum on crime and violence. The crime in her neighborhood, she and others voiced, didn’t always occur because of rivalries; in fact, lately the attacks have been more haphazard. This shift, one teen declared, is a result of attacks deemed the knockout game.

The knockout game consists of a group of teens joining together and assaulting – and sometimes robbing – randomly chosen victims to gain street cred. The report of incidents in local media are continuing and random attacks occur in many parts of the city.

It seems, too, that the violence has even more wide-reaching effects. At the forum, the TOP teens voiced their concerns about social media’s impact on crime; thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and cell phones with WiFi capabilities, teens participating in the knockout games and other crimes have an audience—and bragging rights—at their fingertips.

“I’ll go on Facebook only to see a video or post on my feed of a fight that occurred that day,” Jojo claimed. “People post [the videos of fights] just to see how many likes they can get.”

Social media isn’t only used to build street cred; it’s also a place where teens can bully, threaten, and rally their posse to gang up on someone.

“Teens are in school or on the bus and someone will Facebook, e-mail, or text that they are going to beat them up or jump them at their stop. Most of the time, the offenders have family members or friends meet the bus to help them fight,” Sharon Williams, a facilitator for Wyman’s TOP, added.

The TOP teens have experienced crimes that range from burglary to homicide. Their experiences mirror that of their peers, and all of them know a friend or family member that has been murdered.

Still, the community forum on crime and violence gives the young people hope that change can, one day, come. This discussion and others like it are vital to displaying the resolve of a community. Roneisha, one of the TOP teens who presented, agrees.

“I want to stop the crime in our neighborhood. I don’t want to go get a gun because I’m afraid. I am an A student, and don’t want to be defined by my zip code.”

Wyman’s TLP Graduates, Head to College

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Emily Pirraglia

For seniors in Wyman’s Teen Leadership Program (TLP), last Friday night was more than just the beginning of another weekend.

Instead, it marked their graduation from TLP and the beginning of their journey into higher education. The attending teens were all high school seniors, and their TLP graduation was concurrent to their high school graduation. Through TLP, these graduates possess knowledge of inestimable value: that, with the right resources and support, they are capable of achieving success well beyond the classroom.

Tim Kjellesvik addresses the crowd of teens and parents

Only five years ago these teens may have claimed that the thought of attending college was only a dream. Coming from economically disadvantaged communities and facing the uncertainty of lower life opportunities, these students—though bright and full of leadership potential—were at risk of continuing in a cycle of poverty that their circumstances often dictate.

But, in 7^th grade, they were nominated for TLP; then, after submitting an application and participating in an interview, they became part of a program that focuses on building leadership abilities while exposing teens to the resources they need to be successful in life.

Now, five years later, they must say goodbye to one another as each and every one of them graduate high school and continue onto higher education. These seniors are on their way to colleges like Truman, SLU and Washington University, as well as other institutions across the nation.

This exemplary record of high school graduation contrasts sharply with the average graduation rates of 82% in the teens’ schools last year. The difference is a tribute to the effectiveness of the supports provided through TLP.

“Anyone that is part of [Wyman] has, in some shape or form, helped me to become who I am today,” Jarrid Snyder, a senior, reflects. “[They] motivated me and got me where I am today.”

The Teen Leadership Program was established in 2004, after Wyman narrowed its focus on preparing teens from disadvantaged communities with the supports and opportunities they need to succeed in life. The first intensive residential experience occurred that summer, and the program—then only five years—expanded to a seven year college persistence program in 2011.

The additional two years are designed to address the financial, psychological, and institutional stress students are exposed to in their freshman and sophomore years—three crucial areas which account for up to 75% of a student’s decision to leave college.

Tim Kjellesvik, the TLP Director, has been with Wyman since the program’s inception, and is excited to see this graduating class—the first one to be a part of the college persistence program—continue in the program as they leave for college.

“Through the program, we can continue to support and encourage our teens as they make decisions to achieve the future they want for themselves,” he said. “This celebration is just the beginning for them.” Teen Leadership Program Graduation

Please join us in congratulating our teens; through the month of May, we plan to highlight each senior on our Facebook page!

Dave Hilliard’s 40 Years of Service to Youth

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Emily Pirraglia

Wyman’s evolution under Dave’s direction

Wyman has been providing services to young people for over 114 years, and can even claim the title of oldest camp west of the Mississippi. In that time, the organization has grown from locally serving youth in economically disadvantaged circumstances to nationally serving youth in economically disadvantaged circumstances. Sound similar? Wyman still focuses on serving young people and provides evidence-based programming to suit their needs, allowing its core values to remain fundamental. This adherence to Wyman’s early principles is largely due to the leadership of Dave Hilliard, Wyman’s current CEO. This year marks Dave’s 40^th anniversary with Wyman, and is an exciting time for planning for the future while appreciating the past.

1970: Dave Hilliard, at the far left, poses with Arthur Darr, former chairman of the South Side Kiwanis Camp Wyman and Mrs. Melvin Dillon, executive director of Camp Wyman at the time.

Hilliard would be the first person to assert that Wyman has had a continuum of devoted leaders who prioritized mission; through their guidance, Hilliard was exposed to the characteristics of a successful leader. In his first year as the Assistant Director of the camp, Hilliard promptly demonstrated his dedication to Wyman’s programs and their success. That year, Hilliard contributed to the camp in all possible ways, from installing winter water lines to finding new sources of income for the organization.

For the next few years, Hilliard focused on learning the culture of the organization and researching its history as he continued to develop Wyman’s site and programs.Then, in 1975, Hilliard was hired as Executive Director. In this position, he played a strategic leadership role for Wyman, continually exploring avenues to improve Wyman’s programs. Hilliard’s energy and persistent aim for improvement led him and Wyman’s Board to adopt best-practices in education and youth development. The shift allowed Wyman’s programs to achieve lasting impact in the communities they served; it also narrowed Wyman’s focus to providing supports and opportunities for teens from underserved communities to be successful in life.

1990: Dave Hilliard, center, proudly displays the “big check” from the ever supportive Kiwanians.

Everything Dave Hilliard has contributed to Wyman during his leadership takes place simply and solely within the framework of positive outcomes for young people—the outcomes which kept Wyman true to its foundational values throughout its transitions in the last four decades. A leader by example, his unwavering support and belief in Wyman models are the very characteristics that Wyman strives to instill in its teens. Through his ongoing service to youth, Hilliard has established Wyman as a national expert in the field of teen development and allowed Wyman’s programs to reach thousands of teens across the nation.

2012: Today, Dave Hilliard continues to guide the strategic direction of Wyman’s programs.

Don’t Fix your Teen’s Mistakes

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Saras Chung

We live in a culture where photos are airbrushed and perfection reigns supreme. Models and celebrities parade around with flawless skin, the most fashionable clothing and pay publicists to provide damage control in not-so-flattering situations. Our culture provides role models that are seemingly perfect—a great detriment to our young people. In actuality, mistakes are a pathway to excellence.

According to Charles Kettering, a great American inventor who contributed to the development of the automobile, “An inventor fails 999 times, and if he succeeds once, he’s in. He treats his failures simply as practice shots.” Unfortunately for teens today, quotes like, “failure is not an option,” is a mentality that is woven into their being. The quote, however, is missing one important clause.

“Failure is not an option—it’s a requirement.”

Teens best understand the breadth of their resourcefulness and resilience through unfavorable conditions. As adults, it is our job to let them fully experience these times to grow, mature and learn qualities such as hardiness and optimism. It is to their detriment when we try to ‘fix’ the situation for them.

Hovering parents (aka “helicopter parents”) will call a teacher when their son/daughter makes a poor grade. Instead of allowing the teen to make that mistake, they argue with the teacher or ask for opportunities to complete extra credit. Not only are these parents protecting their children from failure in the classroom, but they are continuing to shield them in college and careers, as well. NPR recently highlighted helicopter parents that are contacting human resource managers to advocate on their child’s behalf, negotiating benefits and compensation for their adult-aged children! This is the manifestation of this problem – adults who are unprepared for real life.

Though it requires great restraint to watch your teen go through difficulties or potential hardship, your optimistic support can help them understand that these experiences are a part of life. By ‘being there’ for your teen, you send the message that you believe they can handle the situation. Parents that provide a listening ear as support nurture their teen’s independence into adulthood. Simply intervening on their behalf sends the message that they are not able to deal with their mistakes.

Reflect:

Do you cover for your teen’s mistakes? (Examples of such behavior include parents who complete their child’s late homework assignments, allowing them to stay home when they did not finish an assignment and those who cover for their teens when things go awry with friendships, etc.)

Though the motive of such actions comes from deep care and love for your child, these are not the types of reactions that will help them grow and learn from their difficulties.

Instead of providing damage control for your teen, think about ways that you can help them use these experiences to grow. We are all human. We all make mistakes. The difference between a mistake from which one can grow or become impaired is the process of how one recovers from it. Failure should not be scrutinized under a microscope, but rather by taking 50 steps away from it and examining it in context.

Consider the following questions as a framework to calmly and nonjudgmentally discuss topics of failure with your teen:

Why do you think this happened?
Why did you react the way you did? (Encourage them to use “I” statements such as, “I felt _____, when _________”)
What do you think would have helped?
What support do you need from me?

These are questions that can help foster critical thinking about such mishaps and provide an opportunity for growth and improvement.

VOTE FOR WYMAN!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Emily Black

Starting April 2nd, Wyman is competing in Monsanto’s Grow St. Louis Contest! Your participation is KEY in helping us grab the top spot and $15,000 to support 72 teens in Wyman’s Teen Leadership Program as they embark on their regional college tour, this summer. The campaign runs for three weeks from April 2^nd – April 22^nd and the project with the most votes wins.

Please take a second to go to www.stlgrown.com and vote for Wyman’s “Exploring My Future” project. You can vote 1 time per day from April 2 through April 22, so vote daily!

TLP teens at Missouri State University during the 2011 college tour.

The project supports rising high school juniors in Wyman’s Teen Leadership Program as they explore admissions, financial aid, academic expectations and residential life at a number of regional institutions. The tours will take place this summer and will enable teens to explore such schools as Southeast Missouri State University, Ranken Technical College, Missouri State University, Rockhurst University and Lincoln University, among others. This tour is a crucial experience for TLP teens, giving them the opportunity to see themselves in various college environments, and make informed, positive decisions about their future!

Public voting will determine the top three winners of $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 grants from Monsanto. This is an opportunity for all St. Louisans to have a voice in choosing projects they think will most help Grow St. Louis. We hope you’ll support us by voting for our entry – and spread the word to all your friends and family members to vote for us, too!

‘Bully’ – A Must See Movie

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Saras Chung

Were you ever bullied in school? Do you remember seeing someone else get made fun of or physically harmed by their peers? It usually starts with behind-the-back name calling— “fat,” “smelly”, “ugly.” If that’s not damaging enough, words then progress into teasing, crowd-victimization and many times, physical harm.

For 12-year old, Alex Libby, a boy with Asperger’s syndrome that was featured in the movie ‘Bully,’ enduring victimization by schoolmates was an everyday reality. “They used to call me names first. Once the high schoolers got on the bus, they would do stuff to me like poke me with pencils or strangle me. Then, the other kids joined in and tried out new things,” Libby recounts.

According to the filmmakers of ‘Bully,’ a documentary shining light onto the heartbreaking issues surrounding the victimization that occurs in schools, over 13 million young people will experience some form of mental or physical violence this year. Directed by Emmy and Sundance award-winning director Lee Hirsch, the documentary follows five kids and their families over the course of one school year and the ways that bullying affects their lives.

The movie gives a face to the bullying epidemic, highlighting the story of real kids, teens, parents and schools. Though it was originally given an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America due to explicit language and footage of bullying, the Weinstein Company, who is releasing this film will release it with ‘no rating’ from MPAA but a rating of “Pause 13+” from Common Sense Media. Common Sense Media is a nonprofit advocacy group that reviewed the film and describes each scene that might cause controversy. It also includes a parent’s guide to discuss the topic with teens.

The director of the movie said in a recent statement, “I made Bully for kids to see—the bullies as well as the bullied. We have to change hearts and minds in order to stop this epidemic, which has scarred countless lives and driven many children to suicide.”

At Wyman, we believe that bullying, or peer victimization, is a very serious matter. Teens not only need the tools to avoid such behavior, but also need to encouragement to become empathetic, caring and concerned citizens to fellow peers and the greater community. We hold the expectation that all teens will not only respect each other, but also have the confidence and bravery to stand up to fellow peers who may engage in such harmful behaviors.

This movie is set to be released on March 30th. Locally, this film will be shown in St. Louis on April 13^th and 21^st at the Landmark Theatre at Plaza Frontenac.

Watch the Trailer here:

Find the event on Facebook.

Check out the website: thebullyproject.com

National Network Spotlight

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Emily Pirraglia

Certified Replication Partners in Wyman’s National Network are successfully implementing TOP^® across the country. The National Network Spotlight highlights a partner and celebrates their positive outcomes.

Teens don’t always get the opportunity to express their opinions on subjects like relationships, peer pressure, and messages from the media. However, in Tennessee, the Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority Inc.’s decision to implement the Teen Outreach Program^® has allowed conversations to occur weekly.

The program began in 2011 and is already creating positive outcomes in the Hamblin County and Monroe County communities. Cathy Kitts, the Director of the Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority Education Center, credits their excellent and ongoing relationship with both school systems for a great deal of the program’s success. Sandy Lewis, the TOP^® Coordinator, is proud to see how excited the facilitators are about the program as well as the mutual respect displayed between the facilitators and students. “The facilitators expressed how important it is to gain the trust of the students and I believe that this TOP^® team has been able to do just that,” Lewis affirms.

Building a relationship with a caring facilitator is also an important component of best practices in TOP^®. The facilitators encourage the students to journal and share their reactions to their TOP^® discussions; one facilitator even ensured that every teen received a response to their entry. This commitment to the teens and the program did not go unnoticed: after realizing that every student received a response, the teens were “shocked that [the facilitator] took so much time and effort to reply to their writing.”

The facilitators all agree that it is a great feeling when you experience a student "get it".

The TOP^® team’s favorite community service learning project to date is the bench project, where the students decorated park benches to help beautify the local Meadowview Middle School. Through this project and all aspects of TOP^® the team has witnessed teens establishing positive relationships with one another while building their confidence.

TOP’s success is grounded in the genuine care the facilitators demonstrate for their teens. Early on, Lewis realized how deeply the team really “got” what TOP^® is all about; their enthusiasm for the program is daily conveyed to their teens in a positive fashion. The students appreciate the commitment the facilitators have to TOP^® and look forward to what’s to come in 2012.

View the interactive map at http://wymancenter.org/nationalnetwork/partners to see our partners throughout the U.S.

A Resource Made by Teens for Teens

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Emily Black

This post is written by Simone Bernstein, a sophomore at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y., co-founder of Volunteen Nation with her brother, Jake.

Connected is one of my favorite words. So it is no wonder that being a volunteer helps me feel connected to my community. During high school, I was an avid volunteer at a local crisis nursery shelter for young children. I was invited, along with many of my peers, to join their Junior Board. The St. Louis Crisis Junior Board is comprised of young people (high school and college students) finding ways to promote the organization and assist with fundraisers for the agency. Junior Board members volunteer in the nursery with the children, help out at events and conduct their own smaller functions to benefit the Crisis Nursery Junior Board. It was an incredible opportunity for me to get involved, brainstorm, problem solve, and meet and share ideas with other dynamic youth volunteers. Teen advisory boards give youth a voice and demonstrate that adults are interested in hearing our ideas and suggestions. I was fortunate to find out about this volunteer and Junior Board opportunity from my neighbor. Yet, I was frustrated that it was so difficult to find volunteer opportunities for high school and middle school youth.

My brother and I searched online and realized there were limited opportunities for youth to volunteer on-site, since many organizations and nonprofit agencies had age restrictions due to safety, security and liability concerns. There was no regional website dedicated to youth volunteers. So my brother and I contacted local organizations that offered youth volunteer opportunities and encouraged others to create youth volunteer programs. We organized a regional website to make it easier for area youth to explore local volunteer opportunities. The success of the website inspired us to host an annual St. Louis Youth and Family Volunteer Fair and days of service for youth and families. The regional website serves as a resource for area schools, youth groups and nonprofit organizations.

We knew there were incredible opportunities for youth to volunteer throughout the United States at local libraries, serving on mayors’ youth advisory councils and at local hospitals, so we decided to create a national website for youth to explore and share volunteer opportunities in their communities and to encourage nonprofit agencies to find ways to include youth and families as volunteers. Every library, food bank and shelter can find ways to include youth volunteers. Youth want to get involved. VolunTEENnation.org wants America’s teens to give back to the community. To do this, Volunteen Nation is challenging every organization and American corporation to add a volunteer opportunity for teens to the site within the first 100 days.