Evening Teen Centers

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Hours

Nov. 17, 2011- April 30, 2012
Mon., Wed, Friday, 6:00p - 9:00p

Evening Teen Centers is part of the Adolescent Services program.

EVENING TEEN CENTER

The Police Athletic League (PAL) has a rich history in our city that began 95 years ago when Police Commissioner Arthur Woods and Captain John Sweeney gave birth to the concept of cops helping kids helping communities.

Since 1914 PAL has been serving New York City’s youth with safe, structured programming designed to engage boys and girls in positive activities that improve their quality of life, present developmental opportunities, and offer the prospect of a brighter future.

PAL Evening Teen Center’s will offer opportunities for youth between the age of 14- 19 to engage in sports and recreation, prevention education, life skills rap sessions and one on one positive peer and adult relationships within a Safe Haven.

Through local partnerships and collaborations with reputable and committed partners PAL will establish Safe Havens in schools and other locations within their own neighborhoods and communities. These strategic partnerships will foster a Community approach in helping to provide positive alternatives and services for youth.

Youth will be offered the opportunity to participate in activities otherwise not accessible to them within their community.

These activities will include but will not be limited to the following:

  • Weekly rap sessions on (Conflict Resolution, Drug Prevention,
    Gang Prevention Child Abuse,You & Your Community, Stereotypes &
    Bullying, just to name a few)
  • Social recreation (Ice Breakers & Board Games)
  • Sports (Instructional, Co-ed Citywide Competitions & Sportsmanship)
  • Visual & Performing Art Contest
  • Essay Contests (Police Commissioner for the Day)
  • Scholarship Opportunities for H.S. Seniors
  • And much more…

CURRICULUM

The goal of PAL Evening Teen Center’s is to provide a safe environment with services and developmental activities that will offer youth the opportunity to positively socialize, participate and experience fun life altering experiences. Youth will have the option to choose to belong to a positive, safe environment within their own community during the Fall, Winter and early Spring.

This year, PAL has redesigned its Evening Teen Center’s into a pilot, goal-oriented program with set objectives and performance targets. In addition, we have enhanced activities with a teen focused life skills and prevention curriculum developed by the National Crime Prevention Council to further increase their awareness on a number of life altering topics.

Component #1: PREVENTION AND LIFE SKILLS

OBJECTIVE: To reduce risk-taking behaviors among youth and foster life skills.

ACTIVITIES: Prevention lessons negative youth behavior are woven into Evening Teen Center activities. These include crime and drug prevention, conflict resolution, child abuse and gang awareness. Life skills lessons such as Your Conflict Choices, Suspicions and Stereotypes, Diversity and Bias Awareness are incorporated as well. Based on a curriculum designed by the National Crime Prevention Council, each Evening Teen Center site will be introduced to Prevention or Life Skills theme of the week with group discussions regarding a different aspect of the theme will further be enhanced through the distribution of related informational pamphlets. Staff members will be trained to incorporate and deliver the lessons through all daily activities.

Component # 2: RECREATION AND FITNESS

OBJECTIVE: To actively engage and introduce youth to individual/group & team recreational activities that increase physical activity and foster sportsmanship and positive peer and adult relationships.

ACTIVITIES: High-organizational games and activities such as volleyball, basketball, and double-dutch will be offered. Low-organizational games such as jump rope, step and board games such as Checkers, Noc Hockey, Monopoly, Carom, Connect Four, Uno and more will give youth the opportunity to socialize and engage in one on one interaction with their peers or with adult mentors. Youth will also have opportunities for open play, and be able to prepare for and take part in citywide games and tournaments such as Hot Shots & Double Dutch.

Component # 3: ARTS AND CULTURE

OBJECTIVE: To stimulate learning, foster creativity and facilitate an appreciation for cultural diversity.

ACTIVITIES: PAL hosts a number of visual and performing art competitions throughout the year. The Spring Poetry Contest encourages teens to express themselves through creative writing. The winners are published in an anthology and are invited to read their work at a Poets Café gathering at the Affirmations Art Gallery in Chelsea. “Tell It Like It Is”, Public Speaking Contest allows teens to perform monologues and scenes from published work in February. “Show Stoppers” is a dance and step team showcase held during April. Teens also have an opportunity to display their visual art and crafts projects during a variety of citywide competition such as the PAL Arts Calendar and Brotherhood/Sisterhood Art Show.

Component # 4: COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND SPECIALTY PROGRAMS

OBJECTIVE: To embrace the community and neighborhood in which we serve and help youth become more familiar with available community resources.

ACTIVITIES: PAL will encourage youth to learn and gather information about their local community organizations and governmental agencies available in the neighborhoods. Each site will have an opportunity to gather information to be disseminated regarding their local police precinct, library, hospital, post office, Council person’s office, Borough President's office, Parks & Recreation Dept, Health Department, etc.

Through collaborations with governmental organizations such as the New York City Police Department and the National Guard Counters Drug Task Force, youth will be invited to special events and presentations. In addition, Police Officers from PAL’s Liaison Unit, Community Affairs Office and local precinct officers will visit the sites often to help break down negative barriers and work constructively with the youth.