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Attendees:  Youth from Turner Fenton, Fletchers Meadow, North Park Secondary schools in Brampton and Erin Mills Youth Outreach Program (EMYOP).

PURPOSE: 

• To review the findings of a youth focus group held in the fall of 2008.

OBJECTIVE: 

• Generate discussion on each identified issue.
• Use discussion points to strategize youth advocacy initiatives.   

IDENTIFIED ISSUE #1:  TRANSPORTATION 

• Most agree it is a major issue for youth
• So busy, almost an hour bus ride, schedules, transportation time
• Parents have things to do and their schedule don’t correspond with that of youth
• Bus fare - $3 – one way!

If we could change one or a couple of things about transportation

• Get transit people to take youth seriously and listen to their needs
• If we had more students complaining the price is too high, then maybe the transit people would pay more attention and maybe change it 
• Students don’t have jobs and have to ask parents for money or rides

IDENTIFIED ISSUE  #2:  POLICE RELATIONS

• Youth in general don’t think the police care and they feel harassed
• Movies are influential, showing the police chasing the young “villain” or “criminal”  makes kids seem like they are always the bad ones
• Police don’t interact with the youth
• If a friend gets arrested, it can turn a youth off from the police
• A lot of youth find the police intimidating – they are more authoritative and do not really show they are regular people 
• If the police approached the youth and talked to them, or sometimes mixed with them outside of the uniform, it would be different

Do you feel safer when you see them at school and in the community?

• When you hear all the stuff in the media, it makes you feel a little safer
• If police are around, parents feel more comfortable and will let you go out to more places

Do you see them do anything good in the schools?

• Don’t really see a lot of arrests, but they have seen police pull someone aside if they look or act suspicious
• Some schools has a PRP  involvement with the teachers’ activities
• Have seen them coaching and involved in events
• They might assist with getting students out of the building and parking lot

Have you seen anything happen in the school?

• Yes.  Have seen the police “pat down” someone in the parking lot

Police – What are some ways we can help build positive relationships

• Get them involved in a fun event  -  e.g. Pladium
• The more closely related they are to you, the more you’re comfortable – you start to feel they are just like you
• Uniform – bad image with gun and baton, feel threatened (mainly  at events and activities)
• Watching the news – you see taser attacks and so on and it scares you
• Show them going to community events and involved with other children and community.  e.g. School dance where police taught dance steps
• Once you take the risk of saying “HELLO” and see a smile, they don’t seem as scary
• If able to talk to you at the same level it would make a big difference
• Attitude – all young people are up to no good.  All youth are not bad

IDENTIFIED ISSUE # 3: COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

• No programs available in some locations
• Need more free recreational activities
• A lot out there, but people don’t know about them or if they hear about something, they forget
• Need more advertising and giveaways /incentives
• Need more of a push, and more reminders like on the internet, flyers, etc.
• Flyers in schools, but no one really looks at them; sometimes flyers are too cheesy
• Facebook is the best.  Most kids use it and they get information about events

They’ll hear about something but forget.  What makes youth remember?

• Constant reminders
• Entertainment – any kind
• Last minute doesn’t really work
• Interesting presentations or speakers that kids can relate to

Is there a point when the reminders are too much?

• A few at first and then increase closer to the time, but if you do too much it gets annoying

IDENTIFIED ISSUE # 4: BOREDOM – GETTING YOUTH INVOLVED

• If you get people to come in groups - they like to come with friends
• No places to go in some areas where you could go hang out and play sports or anything. 
• Some sport centres you have to rent (1 hour for $140), drop-in is only once a week
• The gym is another place youth talk about.  Friends sometimes ask if you go to the gym.  It has become more popular along with other fitness activities.

Sometime youth say they don’t have time to socialize.

• Still have time, even with homework it’s manageable
• We’re not always busy, we’re busy getting bored and just sitting at home, procrastinating

What other activities or things do you see would be helpful?

• A variety of sports
• A field trip to the community centre, gift certificates
• Some schools have a Buy out – pay $2 and receive a pass for the community centre.  Becoming really big, every 2 or 3 months
• No malls or Community Centres around Chinguacousy – more variety like places where young people can play music or sports
• Youth activities in more community centres.  Not enough
• Advertising – better if you personally come to school to make presentations

What other ways of communicating would be good? What are we missing?

• Music – more activities that involve playing music and learning to play.  Andrew and Chris – have a band and both play guitar
• Dancing
• Cooking/baking
• Bunge jumping
• Outdoor hikes
• Philosophy/reading
• Outdoor  activities/ hikes
• Running  (seeing different places) – make it  exciting
• Drawing – arts
• It would be good to try something new every week – you’d need a lot of advertising, but people would get more involved after a few sessions.

*Do you know at least 1 person that fits into a (at risk) group that for example, likes to get into trouble or fights? How can we get them to participate?

• Yes
• Some people hang around a plaza and just make fun of people – their method of entertaining themselves
• Some don’t really get involved in things around the community like we’re talking about because they think it’s cheesy.  It’s hard to get them to come out to things
• School has Freedom writers – courses for at-risk youth, published a book with all their experiences and it has had a positive influence
• Also, an outdoor education program – go on hikes etc

How did those youth get involved in Freedom writers?
A course offered through the school and the first youth that attended the program brought other friends in to it

How can we encourage your friends?

• Information, be clear on the purpose.  Even coming here, we did not really know what it was about or what to expect
• Youth often say they don’t feel heard, don’t have a voice
• What would be a good way to give them a voice?  Facebook – activities in the community and events

e.g. Dalton McGuinty’s drivers’ legislation –  the Facebook campaign made a difference!

Do they want long term events or programs?

• Long term – events are good but don’t last
• Long term – shows commitment
• Have session built into activities
• Have programs long term and have events where youth can display their talents and skills – e. g. cook off, concerts
• Raise money for charities and raise awareness – it gets youth involved

How do you see yourselves?

• 95% of youth are good.  We need to talk about all the good things the youth are doing

How do you want to get involved?

• Involving other people – getting them involved.
• Hosting a Youth Forum or a big event

School boards, community agencies, and government officials support the youth.  What can we do to bridge the gap and create better working relations?

• Instead of one activity, have something where everyone will find something to do
• Barack Obama - the way he spoke and addressed people – they wanted to hear him speak and they wanted to listen he touched them
• Youth need to be acknowledged and told they can and are making a difference and that government is listening to them
• At events sponsored by school boards, agencies and governments, get speakers that are interesting:  Craig Hillberger,  Hazel McCallion, Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemens
• Host events where there is opportunity to showcase youth talent and skills, i.e. dance, modern arts

Do you see yourself, the PYVPN Youth Advisory Group, as a group that would help to plan an event for youth?

• Yes

How often are you able to meet?

• Once or twice a month

Facebook – can we create a group?

• Yes

How else can we get other young people involved?  Payment/Volunteer/Community hours?

• Community hours and volunteer opportunities would be good
• Payment in the form of free skills training and references
• Hours and reference letters
• Maybe a collaboration with the Mayors’ youth teams

Have people in mind (who typically hang out)?  Can you get the word out?

• Yes – would prefer to get the word out first
• Getting other youth who may not usually come here- will depend on time and location of meeting

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