HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 04-27 Maplewood teens have a new place to go MAPLEWOOD REVIEW Wednesday,April 27,2016 MWR
Maplewood
teens have a
new place to go
Library After Dark program to
offer movies,games and fun
Aundrea Kinney
Review staff
Marie Garza is a single parent raising kids in
an environment with real pressures.
A few years ago,her son regularly visited
a basketball court in their Maplewood neigh-
borhood. Garza's
son and his friends
love basketball Ifbougo
and lived for the
moments they What
were able to spend Library After Dark,
on the court with
their friends,that
featuring teen activ-
is,until the hoops ity stations,movies,
were taken down. games and technol-
Garza didn't ogyprojects
know the rims
had been removed Where
until her son and Maplewood Pub-
his friends sud- lie Library,3025
denly began spend- Southlawn Drive,
ing long hours at located west of
home instead of Maplewood Malt
playing pickup
games on the When
court. It wasn't 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
until later that the Friday,April 29.
reason behind the
removal began sur- WHO
facing in conversa- Kid ages 12 to 18
tions she had with
other community COST
members. Free
According to k.,... <=M, ,,.:
Garza,some neigh-
borhood residents had complained that there
were too many African-American kids in the
park allegedly starting fights and stirring up
trouble.Garza worked with Maplewood city
staff to have the basketball hoops reinstalled,
but she said it was this experience with racial
profiling that encouraged her to get involved
with the Maplewood Human Rights Commis-
sion and the issue of youth engagement.
see Library on page 12
APR 2 7 2016 Review
Group at the Sun Ray cares enough to invest in
Library Library on the East Side. them.
j j s J�/ Those activities served The Human Rights
as models for Garza Commission is seeking
when she helped initi- food donations such as
continued from page 1 the Maplewood Public ate Maplewood's Library popcorn or pizza for the
Library to offer a new After Dark event. Library After Dark events.
Recognizing event for teenagers called Garza has been work- Volunteers who have spe-
barriers exist Library After Dark.Like ing closely with Timothy cial skills are also being
"Youth have precon- many of Maplewood's Turner who has agreed to sought.
ceived notions of adults, youth programs,Library facilitate the group toner- Garza says many of the
and adults have precon- After Dark is still located sations.As a co-founder teens in Maplewood are
ceived notions of youth," in the northern section of of the Sun Ray Library's interested in playing bas-
Garza says.She adds that the city,but the event is Young Mentors Group ketball and working at a
when race is thrown into free. and with a background in first job.She says it would
the mix it can cause mis- "I think it's great,"said social work,he has plenty be great to eventually
communication between Maplewood Police Chief of experience to bring to hold mock job interviews
the groups.She explains Paul Schnell. "Anything the table. or provide transportation
that she joined the Human we can do for outreach The Young Mentors to bring the teens to cul-
Rights Commission "to is great,and a library is a Group meets once a week tural events or a basketball
create change and stir up great place to do it." for teenagers to have game.
a conversation people have On April 29,the Maple- group conversations,talk
difficulty talking about." wood Public Library, with community leaders The time is now
Garza has noticed vari- 3025 Southlawn Drive, like police officers,partici- "We desperately need
ous barriers that Maple- will shut down at 5 p.m. pate in enrichment oppor- to invest in our youth in
wood teenagers face when as usual,but will reopen tunities like community Maplewood. We can see
they seek community from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. gardening and attend field on TV that things are
involvement and recre- for kids ages 12 through trips. overwhelmingly not going -
ational opportunities. 18 for a Library After Garza hopes Maplewood well for kids of color...
One big barrier is simply Dark event. families with teens take [Klids are shooting each
the awkward upside-down Teens will be able to an interest in the Library other on the streets."
"L"shape of the suburb. spend time at any of the After Dark program so Schnell says that the
Although Maplewood's activity stations, which that more opportunities Library After Dark pro-
irregular shape can't be will include things like like these can be offered in gram gives teens another
changed,it can lead to a movies, video games, the future. option instead of hang-
transportation barrier for board games and technol- "She's a good cheer- ing out in places the city
teenagers who still rely ogy projects. Parents are leader for this stuff.It's doesn't want them to.
on their parents to drive welcome to attend as well. rare and nice actually," "To have a place and
them to activities.Garza The aim of this event is Turner said about Garza's location and people that
says it can be isolating to to provide a safe place for enthusiasm for youth proj- can provide some direc-
live on the southern leg of teens to hang out,but two ects. tion and resources and
the city when many of the library staff members and time,I think it will be ben-
recreational amenities are two human rights commis- 'It takes a village' eficial,"he said.
located further north. sioners will also use the Garza says the Maple- Since Garza's son gradu-
One such amenity is the event as an opportunity to wood Human Rights ated from high school two
Maplewood Community teach conflict resolution Commission plans to years ago, some of his
Center at 2100 White Bear skills. offer Library After Dark acquaintances from school
Ave. At the beginning of the twice a month from and the basketball courts
While the community event,the adult volunteers April 29 through August. have been involved in gun
center offers several entic- will have the group come Garza hopes that by violence.
ing programs and appeal- together to talk.The teens August the program will "For me as a parent
ing facilities,not all fami- will introduce themselves have found enough sup- that's real. This is real
lies can afford an annual and share how their day porters to continue fund- life in Maplewood, and
membership or even the was or talk about things ing activities into the I think we need to start
daily admission fee. going on in their lives. autumn months. talking about it,"Garza
In instances like this, They will be able to talk The Library After Dark said."Sometimes you just
money becomes a barrier about the issues they face program is seeking finan- need that one interruption
for some youths. at school,at home or in cial and volunteer support in a child's life to change
the community. to help provide a positive their course."
Library after Dark experience for Maple-
Thanks in part to Gar- Inspiration wood's teens.Garza says Aundrea Kinney (00 he
za's passion for eneglifit Garza's daughter she is trying to "bring reaciunitg flai.74reg832 or
Maplewood youth, the attended a Library After back the village mentality" akinney @llllieneais.com.
Human Rights Commis- Dark event in St. Paul which she hopes will show
sion has partnered with.and the Young Mentors teens that the community