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Schools

Finding After-School Activities for Maplewood Teens

YouthNet at CHS attracted parents and teens and presented athletics, volunteerism and the arts as after-school alternatives.

 

Monday night saw the first-ever YouthNet forum, held in the Columbia High School cafeteria. The event focused on informing local teens and parents about after-school, summer and weekend activities available locally.

"The hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the most difficult for parents and kids," said Diane Malloy, YouthNet's executive director. "We hope to address concerns for parents and children, help them decide what do do, whether clubs or classes." She noted that YouthNet's advisory board (YAB), which is planning a fall coffeehouse, is actively seeking new members. "Students in grades six through 12 are eligible and invited to apply," said Malloy. 

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About two dozen organizations, including non-profits SOPAC and the Essex County Youth Orchestra; businesses Shakti yoga studio and Lydia Johnson Dance; representatives of the libraries and Recreation Departments of South Orange and Maplewood; and student organizations like CHS's MLK Club and the O Ambassadors Club, offered information at tables that filled the cafeteria. Several tables were staffed with teens currently participating in that activity. 

YouthNet's members were on hand to help out and to better explain the benefits of the organization, which seeks to help kids pursue their interests. Alex Fagundez, a YAB member, noted a "huge spike in membership recently," with new members eager to become involved. "We're heading in a good direction," she added. "New ideas, new people."

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Indeed, that could have been the catchphrase of the evening. Guest speaker Dr. Dale Atkins, a psychologist who contributes to the "Today" show, was introduced by Doug Newman, South Orange Village President, and by Fred Profeta, Maplewood's deputy mayor. Profeta explained that a goal of YouthNet's forum was "to make sure kids are well-served by the community." Newman described what he called "an information gap" between student interests and what's available in the community.

Newman also noted that YouthNet surveyed some 2,300 students, asking them about their interests and what they saw as obstacles to pursuing those activities after school. "Our local teens are interested in nearly everything," he said, with most students surveyed choosing 18 areas of interest.

One of YouthNet's goals is to help students pursue career interests by way of summer mentorships. Marcus Miller had mentoring experiences both at South Orange Village Hall and the South Orange Public Library. "Now I have a job at the library," said Miller. 

Dr. Atkins, who is a cousin of South Orange resident Miriam Sumner, addressed a balanced life in her talk, "How To Help Your Teen Find Balance." She told the parents in the audience, "We need to find ways to be encouraging. We can become our children's cheerleaders, the people they go to." Atkins suggested that parents "model balance by better understanding components of a balanced life."

The speaker asked members of the audience how they recognize when their lives are in balance. Audience members replied, "Dinnertime, when we're all together," and "When I'm able to laugh at little things." Atkins counseled parents to sleep more, relax fully, and put aside technology when possible, both for their own benefit and to model such behavior for their kids. 

After her talk, parents and teens browsed organizations' offerings, perhaps with Atkins in mind. "We want to speak a language of possibility for our kids," said Atkins, as local groups showcased the after-school possibilities in the community. 

 

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