During these past few months, we’ve been limited on our outdoor activities due to the weather, therefore we put a heavy emphasis on self expression. We housed three open mic nights, and had three concerts on top of that. The first open mic night was hosted by Allison and Zoe, two past participants who shared with the teens and community an uplifting experience with and emphasis on creativity. This event saw 35 participants. Several of the young people from our program shared written poems, and one performed a song that they had been working hard on, two of whom just months earlier had been too nervous and shy to share. The next open mic night was hosted by Tim Herron, a past participant, and a young man who the Town Shop has known for several years. This event offered good community outreach for our program, as a large number who attended were part of the program Advocates. This event saw a total of 37 individuals. At this event, one of the young people came to me to talk about his struggles at school, including his experience with bullying. Staff discussed with him the importance of seeking out an adult in these types of situations. I was pleased with the fact that this young person felt comfortable enough to come to me with the issues he’s been facing.
The concerts we put on this quarter saw many young people. The first concert was the Raymour & Flanigan benefit concert. This was a very unique event, as it took place at the Raymour & Flanigan showroom. At this concert young people talked about their positive experiences at the Town Shop, and what it meant to them. I was very impressed and moved by the performances given by the young people. Many played music and one read poetry stating she wanted to support the Town shop and this is how she could convey it. The Town Shop birthday concert took place on March 1st! 48 Years! The bands that came out and played were comprised predominantly of young people from the Town Shop. Each group thanked the Town Shop, and the opportunities that it has provided them since they’ve been part of it. One of the young people shared a heartfelt message about how the Town Shop saved his life, and that it’s given him a place to share his music, make friends, and grow as a person. This concert saw 42 participants. We also had a rap concert, which pulled in a decent sized crowd of 65 young people from the surrounding communities, many of whom had never been to the Town Shop before. Several past participants were in attendance, and they took their time walking around the building, recalling stories of their time in the program. One of them became emotional talking about the importance of a place like this in the lives of young people. The teens who attending were very excited to have this type of music at the Town Shop and stated that they would like to see more shows like this. The energy from this show was pleasant to see, everyone was singing along with songs they knew and jumping to the beat of the music.
Other indoor activities we offered to teens were cooking classes, movies, dodgeball, and Dungeons & Dragons. For the cooking class, there were 6 teens who participated. They learned how to cook a healthy dinner, including roasted asparagus, roasted brussel sprouts, and pasta aglio. Teens assisted in preparing, seasoning, and cooking the meal. One of the teens asked for a copy of the recipes so that they could cook for their family. Staff discussed with teens how much the entire cost of this meal, which fed 6 teens plus staff, is comparable to a single meal at McDonalds or other fast food restaurants. Teens were very impressed with how simple the meal was to make and how cheap it was. Because outside activities are limited, it’s important to do indoor physical activities that promote fitness. Dodgeball has been a popular activity in the program for many years, and still draws teens and past participants alike to the event. It’s great to see these two groups bond and have fun together, while promoting healthy physical fitness. Dungeons and Dragons is a great activity that the teens have been getting more involved in, inviting their friends, and taking turns running the group. It’s a great way for teens to learn interpersonal skills, and problem solve together as a group.
Flurry Fest out in Saratoga Springs was a fun weekend that teens got to participate in this quarter. We brought five young people, four who never had been before. They spent the weekend exploring the city and spending time together. The young people took time participating in the activities offered at the festival, including yoga, contra dancing, and tai chi. The teens enjoyed sightseeing and looking through the small shops. In the evening, teens played Dungeons and Dragons, shared stories and spent time joking around. All in all, a great trip! Seva at the Soup kitchen and Horse Rescue continue to be staple activities, even during the winter. The young people continue to show an incredible amount of compassion. We saw an increase of new teens to these activities this past quarter, and their continued participation.