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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2002)
AUGUST 1, 2002 Smoke Signals 7 Tribal Youth Maintenance Crews Clean Up, Impress Residents Lonnie Leno works with young people to get them ready for the real world. By Peta Tinda Since June 1, the sight of a white van with a roof rack, Tribal logos and a trio of teenagers spilling out the side have become familiar in Grand Ronde. The teens are part of the Grand Ronde Tribal Summer Youth Employment Program. Lonnie Leno, Tribal Maintenance Coordinator, super vises the three youths working on the landscap ing crew. The aim of the program is to provide employ ment experience to Tribal youth, along with a sense of civic pride, in a positive, community ori ented setting. The three teens, Kevin Linton, Cedar Westley, and Nathan Meuller, work four hours a day from 8 a.m. until noon. Their tasks include mow ing grass, pulling weeds and picking up trash. It's all part of getting the kids ready for the real world, said Leno. "My goal is to get them used to the idea of showing up, putting in the hours, and doing things responsibly," said Leno. "And they've done really well at everything. They get experience using tools and the other nice thing is that they only work a half day, so they get to have some time in the afternoon," said Leno. "I get a real sense of accom plishment and I like to work with my friends," said Cedar Westley, sitting in the back of the van. "Pay day is nice." The Youth Crew can most often be seen QsnnBQaiE) f a J Mil j r - I : j mm m Si., i 2 1 Tribal youth Kevin Linton (top) and Nathan Mueller work in the yards of Grand Mead ows. Both work for the Tribe's Sum mer Youth Employment Program. around the Grand Meadows, Tribal Buildings and the Tribal Elders' Housing. Having them work closely around the community is another 1 'jVi of the program's goals. "We work around the Elders a lot," said Leno. "They get a lot of praise and comments from the Elders, in a good way. That's important, that the youth get connected with the Elders." One Tribal Elder who has much praise for the youth crew is Annabelle "Peachie" Hamm, who lives in Grand Meadows. The team came and cleaned her yard and made a very good impres sion while doing so. "I was so impressed with the young people. They were so respectful. And I was amazed at what a good job they did," said Hamm. "They did a better job on my yard than any of the grown up crews and they were just young kids. They took care of my yard, pulled all of the weeds and did anything you wanted them to do. And then one came up and asked 'Is there something else I can do?' I was really impressed. That was really respectful of our Elders," said Hamm. Leno and his crew no doubt appreciate such compliments. The main emphasis of the program, said Leno, is being respectful, responsible and doing a thor ough job. "If there was one thing I would want these guys to take from this it would be to do good job and do it right the first time," said Leno. yuuui cuuiduun Lepai uncut is uii i ne nuvc New Education facility will be home to all Tribal Education programs. By Ron Karten Boxes weren't yet unpacked, a copy machine wasn't yet placed or plugged in and the basket ball half court was little more than a figment in designers' imaginations when we tracked down Tribal member Lisa Leno, Youth Education Supervisor and her team. After years in the old Riley Porter House, the new operation finally offers the kids a separa tion between recreation and study spaces. Two computers at the Riley Porter House are ex panding to five in the new space. A large multi purpose room will have a pool table, a television, a small workout room and plenty of space for after-school tutoring, cul- "This way you don't lose kids in transition," said Leno. Tribal member Chris Bailey, Youth Education Secretary, likes the feel of the new place. "It's nice for the program," said Bailey. Youth Education Specialist Richard Sohappy, said the new facility has "more to offer," and it certainly doesn't hurt that he has an office of his own here. Cultural Specialist Dustin Harmon, like Sohappy, spends most of his time working in the tural and leadership events. Outside will be that half basketball court, a barbeque pit, and a peaceful setting. Though there is good reason for separating recreation and education in the new facility, the Youth Education Center also makes some im portant new connections. "Before, we were really separated," said Leno, referring to the pre-school, youth and adult edu cation components. Now, the three education components are separate, but part of the same complex. "I like the (new) connections," she said. These connections make it easy for staff and students from Youth Education to become fa miliar faces at the pre-school and adult educa tion centers and that makes it easier for pre schoolers to transition upward and for high schoolers to make the move to the adult center. schools, where he tutors kids and helps them set up their educational goals. While his and Sohappy's titles may be different, he said they work together for the benefit of Tribal students. And Leno credits the full-time staff attendance in schools, starting three years ago, for the strides Tribal students are making. "Having staff at the school full-time, we've seen such an increase in attendance," she said. "They (Tribal youth) need support systems and they need advocates. Sometimes, it just takes get ting shot down once in sixth grade and a kid never recovers. But when we can be at a meet ing with a student and a teacher and act as a bridge that can make a difference. And then, we teach them how to be their own advocates." The result of all this work, she said, is that the drop out rate has gone down. "This will be a home base for them," said Leno. "Everything we planned for the building, we did for the kids what they wanted, what they needed. It's a beautiful building, and it's all their own. "This will be a home base for them. Everything -L t J V V" r- we planned for the building, we did for the kids i'il ( .V jjwBP what they wanted, what they needed. It's a Z Ctjf 11 - beautiful building, and it's all their own." O? ("(Vf Lisa Leno v. ..I -w.-kst ikfeX'l 1 II v. -ujr k - i I T.I t - r I IK:.!' ' -- - t! "Moving Up" - Youth Education staff Richard "Bubba"SoHappy (left), Chris Bailey (middle) and Dustin Harmon strike a pose in front of the new euducation building where the Youth Education is now housed.
