In attendance: Jennifer Doherty, Women’s Resource Center; Tracy Bedard, M.O.R.; Darlene Clayton, Alternative Horizons; Sheree Volrab, San Juan Basin Health Dept Tobacco Prevention and 9R liaison; Kendra Gallegos Reichle, DRAGON Youth Project.Committee members introduced themselves to each other and Kendra talked about the possibility of Wendy Lucero taking Harlene’s place on the committee. Kendra discussed the current projects of the DRAGON Youth Project including Reconnecting Youth and the Girls Circles that are taking place. Reconnecting Youth is going on at La Plata Youth Services and started on October 4th. The Girls Circle at Bayfield High has resumed with some new members. The after school Girls Circle at Durango Joe’s through the M.O.R. program has been going on as well. Kendra is waiting for a response about the Bayfield Elementary group and has not heard back from Amy from the Durango Children’s Museum. Kendra explained that the Fort Lewis College social norms campaign has not resumed, and discussed some of the pitfalls from last year. Sheree mentioned an AmeriCorp scholarship that is available for those working with the La Plata Youth, Children and Family Master Plan that may contribute to this effort. Kendra talked about the new project being funded by the Colorado Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting & Prevention for training and technical assistance. She also mentioned that any grant writing opportunities that come up in terms of unintended pregnancy prevention for adolescent girls (which is one of the directions the DRAGON Youth Project is taking) to let her know. The meeting was adjourned around 5:00pm.
June 12th Meeting Minutes
In attendance: Harlene Russell-Spratlen, La Plata Youth Services; Jennifer Doherty, Women’s Resource Center; Tracy Bedard, M.O.R.; Kendra Gallegos Reichle, DRAGON Youth Project.
Kendra gave some updates about Reconnecting Youth at DeNier, and discussed with Harlene the possibility of offering Reconnecting Youth to truancy kids from Durango, and possibly, Ignacio through La Plata Youth Services.
Kendra discussed the completion of the pilot Girls Circle at Bayfield High School and talked about the upcoming possibilities for this summer and the fall. She introduced the idea of having a Girls Circle for the general public at Durango Joe’s. Tracy replied that she has some girls in mind that may benefit from Girls Circle and they agreed to keep in contact about this. Jenn suggested contacting support groups for parents of troubled teens as a reference. Kendra also introduced the Girls Circle possibilities for the fall, including Durango High, the Durango Children’s Museum, Bayfield High School and Escalante Middle School.
Kendra let everyone know that she will have an intern on Mondays and Tuesdays starting in the fall, Robin Ruddy, who will be available to help out in the advisory committee members’ organizations as well. Harlene mentioned that La Plata Youth Services and M.O.R always need advocates.
Kendra requested that anyone who hears about upcoming events involving substance abuse, prevention, and/or alcohol awareness should let her know. She also discussed the possibility of working with 4 Corners Riversports next year for the Animas River Days after party, and putting up ID signs at local liquor stores.
The meeting was adjourned around 5:00pm.
February 1, 2007
In attendance: Kendra Gallegos Reichle, DRAGON Youth; Harlene Russell-Spratlen, La Plata Youth Services; Emma Salazar, Durango Latino Education Coalition; Shana, FLC student; Darlene Clayton, Alternative Horizons/SUCAP Youth Services; Jennifer Doherty, Durango Women’s Resource Center
(1) Check in: Since we have some new members, everyone introduced themselves. We heard from Shana, who is interested in working with youth in our community, with a specific focus on adventure education. She agreed to continue as a member of the committee. Kendra explained that Mary Jo Rakowski decided to resign from the committee.
(2) Current Projects: Kendra gave an update on the DRAGON Youth Project’s current programs, asking for advice and suggestions on each one.
- FLC Social Norms Campaign: Kendra explained that the second social norms poster is out on campus, and receiving good feedback. Shana mentioned she has seen them. Kendra asked for suggestions about where to place posters around the community. Jenn suggested laundry mats, and to contact Josh Rosenthal (Restaurant Association). Emma suggested Magpie’s. Kendra talked about collaboration with the Uniting Students through Wellness FLC student club and events and promotions before spring break. Shana suggested having students sign a pledge before they receive any goodies.
- Reconnecting Youth: Kendra explained that the DeNier groups are currently at a standstill due to lack of staff. Harlene suggested contacting Dave at La Plata Youth Services about the possibility of doing Reconnecting Youth there. Emma suggested checking with the Learning Center at Durango High School in order to possibly work Reconnecting Youth into the program.
- Girls Circle: Kendra talked about the training she attended in California. She then went on to discuss the amazing progress of her Bayfield Girls Circle group. They are in their fourteenth week and have shown remarkable transformations both individually and as a group. Kendra also talked about the new group at Durango High for Native American girls that just started this week, and the Escalante group that has been going on for five weeks. Emma and Kendra talked about some of the issues with tutors wanting to use the group for their own personal issues, as well as the racism issues that have been going on. Emma explained that turnout has been low across the board for her programs lately due to kids getting kicked out of school. Kendra asked for suggestions about new possibilities, some of which include a Girls Circle for FLC freshman girls, and being available for early release days next school year. Emma and Darlene suggested getting together with 4C GLAD and other Gay Straight Alliances to find guest speakers about HIV. Emma alerted Kendra about a Safe Schools Coalition meeting on Monday that might be beneficial to attend.
(3) Community Education Projects: Kendra asked for any suggestions about girls’ events or events associated with impaired driving prevention. Jenn invited Kendra to sit on a committee for the Girls to Women conference sponsored by the Women’s Resource
Center. Jenn also suggested contacting MADD for ideas about impaired driving prevention. Emma and Kendra talked about the possibility of bringing the “Every 15 Minutes” program to the community. Emma also suggested talking to Marta Martinez-Evans about possible guest speakers on drinking and driving.
(4) Anything else? Jenn announced that the Women’s Resource Center will be moving to 769 Main Avenue this weekend! Darlene talked about the Teens Saving Teens group she has started with Alternative Horizons and the pre-prom assemblies they will be putting on. The meeting was adjourned at around 5:00pm.
November 6, 2006
In attendance: Kendra Gallegos Reichle, DRAGON Youth; Darlene Clayton, Alternative Horizons/SUCAP Youth Services; Sheree Volrab, San Juan Basin Health Dept Tobacco Prevention and 9R liaison.
(1) Check in: Enjoyed snacks, passed out DRAGON Youth shirts to those in attendance. They postponed the raffle for a prize until the next meeting.
(2) Current Projects: Kendra gave an update on the DRAGON Youth Project’s current programs, asking for advice and suggestions on each one.
(3) Other: Kendra expressed the need for more advisory committee members. Sheree and Darlene suggested someone from the DeNier staff, a representative from the police department, and someone involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs (like McKeane(??) or Kip). Other suggestions are welcomed.
August 1, 1006
In attendance: Harlene Russell-Spratlen, La Plata Youth Services; Jennifer Doherty, Women’s Resource Center; Kendra Gallegos, DRAGON Youth Project.
Today’s meeting was called with an emphasis on the Girls Circle program that the DRAGON Youth Project will be implementing in our community beginning this fall. The main goals were to choose one of the nine activity guides for utilization with the pilot group, choose an age group of girls, choose a location for the group, and to choose a target population of girls.
Both Harlene and Jenn provided some great outside contacts they believed would be able to help with recruiting girls, location, etc. Kendra agreed to contact Carson Jones with Human Services, Eve Presler with the Advocacy for La Plata, Esther Belen with DHS and DLEC, Emily at Planned Parenthood, Cindy Ryan at Excel, Katie Parkinson and Brian at Miller/Escalante middle schools, Leanne Vallejos with DLEC, and some local churches, such as New Life Chapel and Saint Columba.
Jenn agreed to help find out more information on Girl Scouts in Durango, as well as to speak with her coworkers, Tracy and Mandy, at the WRC to work on recruitment of girls for the pilot group.
We all agreed on the “Expressing My Individuality” curriculum for the pilot group, targeting a group of girls aged 11-15. We all felt like holding group sessions at the high school would be most effective, due to transportation and convenience.
If anyone has any additional contacts they feel would be appropriate in relation to the Girls Circle program, please feel free to email me kendra@sjbhd.org
June 8, 2006
In attendance: Harlene Russell-Spratlen, La Plata Youth Services; Faith Lemon, Robert E. DeNier Youth Services Center; Mary Jo Rakowski, Southwest CO MADD
We started the meeting with introductions. I explained an overview of the DRAGON Youth Project, stating what it is, what is currently being done and what will be coming up in the near future. I explained the Reconnecting Youth curriculum and how it is being used as well as where it will be offered in the fall. Harlene expressed an interest in incorporating it into the life skills group currently being held at the La Plata Youth Services.
I explained that we will be holding a Girls' Circle group in collaboration with the Women's Resource Center in the fall. I expressed my desire for ideas on how to recruit girls and what girls I should be looking for. Faith and Harlene talked about the increase in the numbers of deliquent girls in our area.
I brought up the Strengthening the Bonds of Chicano Youth & Families program suggested to me by my ADAD advisor. I asked what the group thought about the at risk Latino youth in the community. Harlene brought up the many activities and programs that the Durango Lation Education Coalition has. We discussed how the DRAGON Youth Project could perhaps work with the coalition to get some new activites started.
I explained the FLC Social Norming Campaign that we are working on. Harlene mentioned the Underage Drinking grant offered by the state that is still open and is focusing on college students. Mary Jo said that it is important to focus on college students because a lot of them are under 21.
I explained this online forum and expressed my desire for everyone to check it out and stay updated, as well as keep *me* updated on the site.
We did some brainstorming and all present provided me with some wonderful ideas. Harlene expressed her concern that the DRAGON Youth Project is doing similiar work as the Step it Up Coalition and suggested that I talk with Jenn Bartlett to get some more information from the last meetings for ideas. Faith mentioned bringing the Reconnecting Youth curriculum into Durango High School by contacting such groups as Synergy, Teen Court and the Summit at the high school. We all discussed the benefits of starting prevention education at a younger age and Mary Jo explained to us the MADD program, Youth in Action, that uses middle and high school students to teach younger kids.
We talked about the outcomes of the Town Hall meetings and all agreed that more publicity was necessary and that it was not solution based.
Other ideas were to get more volunteers involved through the service learning requirement at the high school, the psychology and sociology programs at FLC, probation divisions, and the La Plata Youth Services.
Harlene and Mary Jo said they would speak to some individuals who may be interested in serving on the committee in the future.
We all agreed to keep in touch through the online forum and email. I asked the committee to keep me updates with news or ideas on the forum.
