Lake Orion High School sophomore Jenny Smith hopes a student-produced cable program called ‘Teen Talk? will help her and her classmates garner the respect they deserve in the community.
‘The idea came from us kids a long time ago…we wanted a community center,? said Kristina Smith, another LOHS sophomore working on the project. ‘A lot of teens have no place to hang out.?
Jenny and Kristina were joined on the program, which first aired Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. on the Lake Orion local cable channel 20, by LOHS students sophomore Alex Horton, 2001 graduate Amber Smith, sophomore Perri Mitchell and sophomore Marina Salinas. LOHS senior Ross Mabery, sophomore Rachel LaRocca and LOHS graduate Josh Wiley have also been working on the program.
The group is being sponsored by the Orion/Oxford Community Coalition, who will also use the program as a forum for discussing developmental assets.
‘With this ‘Teen Talk,? we’re dealing with developmental assets and substance abuse,? said Gary Binzer, community organizer for the coalition. ‘We want to talk about how the community sees these kids…We want to get this dialogue going.?
The development assets to be addressed on the program include eight categories, four for external assets (support, enpowerment, boundaries and expectations and constructive use of time); and four for internal assets (commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies and positive identity).
The asset approach was developed by the Search Institute, a nonprofit group who seeks to advance the well-being of adolescents and children by generating knowledge and promoting its application. The institute, located in Minnesota, conducts research and develops publications and tools.
‘TV is such a good way to get your message out,? said Jenny. ‘We want to get it out to the adults of Lake Orion.?
Part of that message is that teens need to be taken seriously, according to the group who feel that sometimes the community stereotypes teenagers into one group.
‘We want people to value us and know what we have to say,? Kristina said.
Kristina’s mother, Gloria Smith, has helped the students get trained to produce the program at Orion Neighborhood Television.
‘They were in middle school, some of these girls, and I kept hearing from them that there was nothing in the community for them to do and they had no where to go,? Gloria said. ‘They wanted a teen center…(Orion Township Supervisor) Jerry Dywasuk listened to them, and he talked to his board.?
Orion Township is currently pursuing the possibility of a community center, and the teens of ‘Teen Talk? hope they will be remembered when it comes to its design.
‘They want to have a voice and help plan it,? said Gloria.
The coalition will also introduce the community to their Youth and Developmental Assets (YADA) initative, asking community leaders to endorse it so the coalition can increase awareness and decrease substance abuse.
The students had 52-3rd District Court Judge Lisa Asadorian as a guest on the program’s pilot episode, and hope to have other community leaders on future programs.
‘The show will run an hour to a half hour, depending on how we edit,? said Binzer. ‘It will be an open forum. The first pilot will be taped, and the real goal is to do this live, maybe every two weeks.?
All of the students involved have been certified at the cable station to use the equipment after beginning training there two months ago.
‘The cable station was wonderful and so supportive,? Gloria said. ‘The kids needed someone to sponsor them, and Gary Binzer stepped up to the plate.?
Coalition president Sandy Mabery wants Orion kids to know that the group producing ‘Teen Talk? is not an exclusive one, and is also open to any area adults who would like to get involved.
‘We want to open people’s eyes,? said Jenny. ‘I hope teens will get more respect in this town.?