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Hanging Around with a Purpose - Making Things Happen

Wednesday, February 1, 2006

(Howard County Connections)

By Jacqueline E. Burrell

It’s no secret. As soon as school lets out, students from Cradlerock School (formerly Dasher Green Elementary and Owen Brown Middle) make a beeline for the East Columbia Library. Keeping the shifting heft of their backpacks centered, it’s a short walk. A field is the only thing separating the school and the library.

But there was a lot more separating the actions of the students in the library from the library staff. Talking loud. Running around. Disrupting other people. It was clear some guidance was needed here.

Now, “parents are happy. Schools are happy and the police are happy,” says Contobia Adams, the library’s young adult coordinator. And most importantly, the students are happy.

An after school program called Teen Time was established, with funding help from the Horizon Foundation and the library.

“We wanted to reach out to teens coming into the library,” and have them use their time constructively, says Anna Levy, program director, noting that for many parents, this was an answer to childcare or having their child home alone.

The library’s biggest challenge was space. “It was difficult to get that many kids in the small space and provide a quality program,” says Levy.

Still, 55 youngsters enrolled in Teen Time managed to squeeze into the small meeting room.

Students chose their own snack menu – yogurt, string cheese, pudding. They’d do homework and get any research or computer help from staff. Workshops were held on team building and communication skills, exercise, art, dance, and many others. Guest speakers came every month, including Miss Maryland USA.

County Council Chairman Guy Guzzone spoke about achieving goals and obstacles he had to overcome. “These are terrific kids and a great program,” said Guzzone, adding how impressed he was with the kids’ enthusiasm – “more than I’ve seen in a lot of programs.”

“This is a great opportunity to pass on really good values,” he said.

At the end of the year, a small celebration was held. For Levy though, it took on special meaning. The students “brought tears to my eyes” as they stood up to speak. One young man said that things were “rough” at home, but Teen Time gave him peace. Another young lady said she was happy because “people expected her to be there. They wanted her to be there.”

One 13-year old girl seemed to sum things up: “…I enjoyed seeing all the smiles on everyone’s faces and hearing all the laughter. It makes me feel good knowing that I was in an environment that is enjoyable and pleasant to be in with kids my own age.”