Mayor Leppert to recognize West Dallas teens

by PegNews wire

Today, Friday, July 31, Mayor Leppert will recognize 80 West Dallas teens at 2 p.m. for their participation in a pilot program called Totally Teen Summer Camp at Pinkston High School. The camp was a first-ever collaboration among the City of Dallas Park and Recreation, Parkland Health and Hospital System, West Dallas Community Centers, Inc. and Dallas Independent School District to reach ages 13-18.

For youth-serving organizations, planning and implementing programming for this age group remains a challenge. But through innovative programming, collaboration, parental involvement and s well as the support of elected and community leaders, this summer camp was a success. Another unique aspect of this camp was that high school students and recent graduates were hired through the Texas WorkSource Arbor Youth Program to serve as peer counselors.

The idea for the camp resulted from the West Dallas Community Conversation hosted by Parkland Health and Parkland Health and Hospital System in 2007 and 2008, in which residents identified the following as priorities for West Dallas Community:

1. Education -- identify social and academic problems encountered by youth

2. Offer youth (life) skills training, mentoring, resource opportunities, and counseling.

Source: City of Dallas