Want to be
heard??? Please join the Mayor and City
Council for...
TEEN FORUM
6:30pm, Thursday, November 19, 2009
Gary & Janice Posdesto Impact Teen
Center - 725. N. El Dorado Street.
View Flyer
The teen forum on October 1, 2009
began at 6:00 p.m. in the Stewart
Hazelton of the Cesar Chavez Library.
Mayor Johnston and Councilmember Eggman
made introductions and led the forum
discussions. Councilmember Holman and
Lowery joined in on the discussion later
in the evening.
Six discussion circles were set up to
brainstorm and discuss five questions
that address the needs of our teens. The
questions and responses have been
compiled together. Many of the responses
from each of the groups were similar.
The questions and responses are as
follows:
1. What are some of the issues teens
face?
a. Teen Pregnancy/ Teen Parenting
b. Lack of employment opportunities for
teens
c. Feeling of loneliness / Low
self-esteem
d. Lack of positive/creative outlets
e. Feeling prejudice from adults
f. Lack of communication between teens
and adults/parents
g. Lack of exposure to the world and
belonging to a community
h. Lack of awareness of others
perspectives – ethnocentric
i. Lack of activity during the hours of
2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
j. Gangs
k. Substance abuse/addiction
l. Dysfunctional families
m. Peer pressure – to shoplift and to
cut school
n. Colleges – determining where to go
and getting accepted
o. Lack of leadership opportunities
p. Access to tutoring help with school
assignments
q. Boredom/Nothing to do in Stockton
r. No voice
s. Abuse/violence/bullying/sexual
harrassment between teens
t. Lack of knowledge of resources
u. Homelessness
v. Lack of public transportation
w. Mental Health issues
x. Lack of life skills
2. What are some of the services
available to teens?
a. PointBreak
b. Teen Mothers of Preschoolers (Teen
MOPS)
c. Public Library Teen Advisory Groups
d. Visions and Dreams
e. WorkNet
f. Generation Excellence
g. Empowering Young Voices – EYV
h. PLAY – Peace Love and Youth
i. Churches/Temples/Mosques
j. Teen Center – El Dorado Street
k. Boys and Girls Club
l. Premiere
m. Catholic Charities – Pre-Natal
Services
n. Mediation Center of San Joaquin
o. Extra-curricular activities at School
– Sports/Music
p. After School Programs at Schools
q. Y.E.S.
r. Family Youth Services
s. YMCA
t. Big Brothers/Big Sisters
u. Peacekeepers
v. Charter House
w. YouthBuild
x. The Women’s Center
y. CIP Program at UOP
z. St Mary’s Dinning Hall
aa. Delta Academy
bb. With our Words/Spoken Word
cc. Girls Scouts/Boys Scouts
dd. Kids College – San Joaquin Delta
College
ee. Youth Advisory Commission –
Community Service
ff. Beyond Please and Thank You
gg. STORM – College Prep skills
hh. Public Libraries
ii. School Counselors
jj. Joven Noble
3. What do you like about Stockton?
a. We have lots of community activism
–but there is a lack of connectivity
b. Great Diversity / people
c. Weber Point Event Center
d. Movie Theaters/ Bowling Alleys/Malls
e. Weather
f. Stockton Arena
g. Teen Center
h. Colleges in Stockton
i. Open to making changes
j. Downtown Stockton
k. Waterfront
l. Community Involvement/Volunteerism
m. Musical talents
n. Annual Events
o. City’s stance against graffiti
p. TeenFest
q. Close Community
r. Government is easy to work with
s. Strong History
t. Waterways/Delta
u. Sporting events: High
School/College/Private
v. Peaceful
4. What do you want to see improve?
a. Programs for teens between 2 p.m. and
6 p.m.
b. Alternative schools / Programs for
dropouts
c. Bring in educational component that
“speaks” to the teens
d. More security for teens – Parks and
schools
e. More Community based activities /
More holiday events
f. Concerts for teens
g. Improvement in means of
communication/marketing
h. Bike paths
i. Better access to the arena for teens
- Reduce fees
j. Respect from adults
k. Legitimize youth voice – Include
teens in planning youth activities
l. Develop private sector venues for
teens
m. Communication on available resources
to youth
n. Increase bus transportation
o. Bring back Youthink at the RECORD
p. Free movie screenings for teens
q. Allow for more live music at venues
r. Clean up the environment:
buildings/sidewalks, waterway, recycling
s. Teen/youth mentoring programs
5. How can we work together?
a. Clearing house website where all the
programs can be accessed by teens and
parents. The website can be managed
through SOS
b. All Love Production - have a festival
to celebrate diversity
c. Assist with event planning for teens
d. Teen representative on the City
Council
e. Teen to assist with publicity to
target teens
i. Create a community calendar for teens
ii. Use facebook/twitter/myspace
iii. Improve Website
f. Assist with creative ideas for teens
to volunteer
g. Increase collaboration
h. Youth network – to improve
communication
i. City committee to address youth issue
– Teen Forum
j. Create a survey – needs assessment
targeting teens
k. Colleges in area to be more engaged
in the community
l. Daily/Weekly/monthly announcements
m. Teen representatives from each school
to meet monthly
n. Partnerships between schools/churches
o. Parenting classes/Create support
system for Parents
p. Youth tutoring youth
q. Create opportunities for Adults and
Teens
r. Create a directory of
resources/services
s. Establish a recycling program that
benefits teens fiscally
t. Expand and increase local programs
Many of the adults and teens were
pleased with the discussions that took
place. Many are interested in continuing
to work together to address the teen
issues and concerns.
The next teen forum has been scheduled
for Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 6:30
p.m. at the Gary & Janice Podesto Impact
Teen Center, 725 N. El Dorado Street.
