Youth Programs: Passports to Success

By Julia d shaW, direCtOr rOChdale Village COmmunity Center

In our community, everyone can play a role in the growth and development of the Rochdale Village Community. There are many programs, activities, resources, and opportunities in the Community Center. Some programs have been here for over 20 years and going strong, while others are new and emerging to meet the needs of our evolving world. In December, we completed several teen programs that engaged over sixty teens in Rochdale and the surrounding community. The Teen Clubs offered 12 weeks of FREE music lessons on the violin, drums, and horns. Digital Minds Teen Club introduced youth to film production and creating video content to express their views. The Art is Life Teen Program allowed teens to express their creativity through drawing, sewing, and even created a safe space to engage with each other and just have fun!

We had the opportunity to meet with the Department of Youth and Community Development’s (DYCD) Commissioner, Keith Howard. The Commissioner and his team spearheaded a partnership between Rochdale Village Community Center, Black Spectrum Theatre, and the King of Kings Foundation to add the TEEN CONNECTS Sport Program by the offering activities for our young people that fostered health and wellness and build athletic skills training drills and intermural competition. Soccer, Martial Arts, and two TIK-TOK Dance Teams allowed youth to engage and empower each other as well as to express their creativity. Several of the in- structors grew up participating in programs like Martial Arts and now they are leading programs for youth. Akail Charles and Téa Mack came together to teaching the skills that learned as participated in Shareef’s Martial Arts Academy. Several programs presented at the Our Village Kwanzaa Celebration to an audience of over 200 people in attendance.

The Teen Club and the TEEN CONNECTS programs closed out this session with a Participation Awards Ceremony with words of wisdom from Richard Celestin, author and Inspirational Lawyer, and was attended by DYCD Commissioner Howard and several of his staff members, along with Carl Clay of the Black Spectrum Theatre. Together we create passports for our youth to travel on the road to success.