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interests as well. Taking place during this same period were the efforts of the Youth Initiatives <br /> Committee as charged by Mayor Hank Duitsman. These efforts resulted in a 'Youth Summit" that via <br /> a focus study with 90 Junior High students produced information to help with our planning as well. <br /> 2. Qualifier/ risks: <br /> There are no doubt dozens if not hundreds of examples of communities in which a "youth <br /> center' or" youth hangout" <br /> has appeared, only to disa pp ear in a relatively atively short time. Many adults <br /> may recall such places from their own youth experiences. To be sure, a center or hangout <br /> will need <br /> to be responsive to student interests and needs, and will need to evolve from week to week or month <br /> to month. One inescapable aspect of youth is that they characteristically have a wide variety of <br /> interests and they need to explore those interests. In some cases what was a very popular place in <br /> the fall can become passe by the winter or spring, and this is a risk which is not lost on the writers of <br /> this proposal. A couple of key ingredients which should help assure better longevity: 1.) a <br /> community-wide "buy-in" to the concept--we need the support of the entire community. The center <br /> should not be viewed as the creation of only one or two agencies or entities; it needs to belong to the <br /> community. 2.) youth need to be very closely tied to all decision-making aspects of any proposed <br /> center; location, goals, philosophy, activities, food choices, etc. No decision should be too large or <br /> small to have youth involved in helping to make that decision. <br /> 3. General concepts/aspects of a successful approach: <br /> a. collaborative project <br /> b. community-based (not just school district or municipality) <br /> -faith community <br /> • -health community <br /> -businesses <br /> -service clubs <br /> • <br /> -individuals <br /> -youth <br /> -families <br /> -law enforcement <br /> -Elk River 2001 <br /> -Community Youth Task Force <br /> -Citizen's League <br /> -Healthy Communities Initiative <br /> -Boy's and Girl's Club group <br /> -CASEY group <br /> -municipalities <br /> -school district <br /> -grants <br /> c. youth involved in partnership—do it with, not for or to youth. Involve from the outset, <br /> including goal development and steps in the process. <br /> 4. Two-step process: 1.) this summer: stopgap approach using Lion's Park <br /> 2.) longer term approach with site somewhere else that can serve as a year- <br /> round home. <br /> • <br />