COVER STORY

Jenny Hanley isn’t about red tape or rules. She’s not into bureaucracy, and she certainly doesn’t tolerate any bullshit.

When it comes to the kids at the Hanley Institute, her mission is extremely straightforward.

“It’s a simple model,” she said. “We don’t enable kids; we empower them.”

Hanley began the Hanley Institute in 2018. When she first opened the youth centre in Flesherton, she had two kids participate in after-school programs. Now, upwards of 20 pre-teens and teens can be found at the Spring Street facility any given day after school. On top of drop-ins and after school programs, Hanley also facilitates summer day camps, offers one-on-one education sessions and group workshops.

Everything is designed to help rural kids in Grey County become the best possible versions of themselves through coping skills, effective communication, development of healthy friendships and relationships, and most importantly, being kind.

“If a kid is not being the person they could be, that’s what I’m here for,” she said. “We want to give kids every opportunity we can.”

Hanley is an Educational Assistant by day and has a background in Addiction Support. She’s also mom to a 19-yearold daughter, and legal guardian to an 18-year-old son. Her experiences parenting and working in schools and rehabilitation centres have helped create a very real and relevant environment in the Hanley Institute.

“You need to talk their lingo and be real to them,” she said. “There’s too much enabling and sugar-coating shit with kids. For me, I’m straight up. Say it as it is.”

No topic or conversation is off limits. Having worked with mental health patients, gangs and drug dealers, Hanley said: “There’s nothing you can say that I’m going to judge In order to help kids become responsible and respectful members of society, she said it’s easiest to just jump into tough topics. Hanley said the Four S’s, self esteem, suicide, substance abuse and sex, are all openly and honestly discussed at the centre.

“I want kids to have the correct information,” she said. “We talk about drugs all the time, and the consequences of drug use. That way, if kids make the conscious decision to get high, they at least have that information beforehand.”

Her approach certainly resonates with the kids.

Every time someone walks into the Hanley Institute, they must stop and make eye contact with the person they see in the mirror. Hanley supervises as they say something nice to that person.

Next, they have to sign in and sign up for a job. That “chore” is their way of being part of the Hanley Institute household.

“We’re a family,” Hanley said. “You make a mess, you clean it up.”

Giving youth a say also helps make them feel like they belong.

“I really want the youth to have a huge impact on how this place is run,” she said.

Another initiative Hanley takes quite seriously is the rule of five. If a kid says something negative about someone or something, they have to verbalize five positives about that person or thing. Hanley said kids will hold other kids accountable.

“This needs to be a safe place,” she said. “If kids are going to be jerks to each other, they’re not going to be welcome. Let’s make good choices.”

Facilities like the Hanley Institute definitely exist in more urban centres, but Hanley said there is a need for centres in rural places like Grey County as well. The challenges facing area kids and teens are not dissimilar

from the challenges facing kids in cities, and the desire to have a place where they are valued, mentored and enjoy a sense of community is certainly no less strong. The vast majority of youth at the centre are the children of local families, and the facility as a whole is the result of contributions from the community.

“The community has been amazing, making donations and putting on workshops and programs,” she said. “This place works because the community is so strong.”

Hanley herself grew up in Grey County, and is proud to offer a safe place for local kids, where they can become their best selves and have their voices heard.

“(Youth) live in a totally different world than we did,” she said. “Try to understand their point of view. Give them a chance; Get to know them.”

When given the opportunity, she said it’s incredible how they shine.

When Hanley started the Institute, the focus was to target teenagers and young adults. She laughed when she said older kids weren’t necessarily interested in coming to work on life, and didn’t always have a keen desire to make changes in their attitudes and decision-making skills. Taking proactive measures, Hanley began targeting younger kids, allowing them to be brought up in the productive environment the Institute offers, instilling good humanship from the ground up.

“It’s my vision,” she said. “It was a dream that became a goal that’s becoming a reality.” All by following a simple mandate. Be Kind.

JENNY HANLEY

Owner, The Hanley Institute 13 Spring Street, Flesherton www.thehanleyinstitute.ca (519) 378-4082 Photo: Jenny Jelen

Regular programs are available for youth in Grades 6 and up. Summer camps and other programs are offered for younger kids, and Hanley would love to expand the centre to include programs for all ages.

To learn more about the Hanley Institute, visit thehanleyinstitute.ca. Volunteers are always welcome, and anyone with a hobby or skill they can share with youth in a workshop setting is encouraged to get it in touch.