Community Concern for Youth

by Jon Jackson

The Youth Committee utilizes the Park District toboggan hill in the summer for rock concerts.

Highland Park's Youth Committee, created in June, 1971, is comprised of local youth and adult members from the community. The Committee serves to identify with the needs and interests of young people in the city and to develop programs and activities which address themselves to meeting those needs.

Through the efforts of the Committee and the city, and in an attempt to provide a viable youth serving agency, a position was created for the employment of a full-time Youth Coordinator in August, 1973. The Committee's selection of an individual with a background in parks and recreation administration reflects a departure from the usual appointment of a youth worker, whose expertise lies within the fields of psychology or sociology. The Coordinator acts as the advocate of all youth in the city and is looked upon as their official ombudsman.

The Youth Committee has established the following guidelines in its attempt to provide meaningful services to Highland Park's Youth:

"to assist in the development of programs suggested by and for the approval of the City Council; to encourage youth of the City by publicizing and otherwise focusing attention upon accomplishments of youth groups and individuals within the city: to engage in such fact-finding and studies as may be necessary to provide information about the nature and extent of Highland Park's youth needs and to suggest programs necessary or desirable to promote the interest and well-being of youth in the city; to cooperate with all public and private youth organizations within the community; to work with all agencies and organizations both public and private, in the community which serve youth; to promote inter-agency cooperation of the existing community facilities for the benefit of the youth of the city."

An integral part of the success of the Youth Committee has been its close association and cooperative alignment with the Park District of Highland Park. Park District Commissioner, William Karger, and Assistant Recreation Director, Earle Hodgen, both occupy membership positions on the Youth Committee's Advisory Board. Their presence, as well as the philosophy of the Youth Coordinator and Ted Kavadas, Director of Parks and Recreation in Highland Park, has greatly contributed to the positive approach taken in youth service by this North Shore community.

During the summer months of each year, the Youth Committee sponsors weekly rock concerts at the Park District's Centennial Park. Youth members of the Committee are responsible for all phases of responsibility at the park, from policing peers to helping Park District employees clean-up after each concert. In the past three years, over 10,000

Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 March/April, 1975

The youths observe a sky sailing demonstration held in one of the parks.

youth have participated in the activity without hassle or incident.

One of the most unique programs initiated by the Committee is its Summer Facilities Program. Each summer, over 10,000 Summer Facilities cards are distributed to area youth. The card entitles young people to reduced admission at local theatres, bowling alleys, and to public recreation facilities in three communities. In cooperation with the Deerfield, Highwood, and Highland Park Park Districts, youth from these three communities are entitled to reduced admission, and sometimes exclusive use, at local swimming pools, recreation centers, miniature golf courses and driving ranges, and the Highland Park Ice Arena. The facilities card also lists workshops held at the local recreation center, hours of operation at various public and private teen groups, and special Committee programs.

The Park District and Recreation Department has provided space in its seasonal program brochures for Youth Committee programs and has provided the use of its recreation center for Committee sponsored rock concerts, programs, and activities during the school year. In addition to those areas of help already listed, the Recreation Department was instrumental in setting up the Youth Committee's summer employment program, HYRE (Help Youth Realize Employment), and the community's Summer Girl Program, a first on the North Shore.

The cooperative ventures undertaken by the City's Youth Committee and the Park District Department have resulted in viable and relevant service to the community's young people. The interaction between young people and community adult leaders has brought together public and private agencies in a united spirit of service to youth. And, that's the name of the game, service.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 March/April, 1975