can Phoenix Bikes resend the mentioned permission slip? if not to the list then to me personally? thanks!
andrew lynn troy bike rescue troy, ny
rachael spiewak wrote:
To create accountability to the shop and the shop community on the part of our youngest members: We have a youth mentor on staff who is paid to be there for the kids on Saturdays, Sundays, and Tuesdays for the summer. The kids have their own workbench and their own tool box. The biggest problem with their toolbox is keeping adults from using it. The kids may collectively work on one project at a time, supervised by the youth mentor. If they want a new bike, they must trade in a completely working bike. If they want to come to the shop during other sessions, they must bring their own supervision. We also do races around the parking lot and award them prizes. It's really cute. We've also recently sent the kids home with permission slips and a youth agreement form that they must sign (Thanks Phoenix Bikes!!). And we're about to start making them name tags.
We also supervise two teens who are refugees per summer. They come to us through the International Rescue Committee, which seems to have a highly structured intern program. These kids are always amazing. Part of the lesson here is, if you're going to get interns, partner with an agency that has a really thorough program so someone outside of your shop is holding them accountable and giving them the necessary tools (for example, they do job readiness workshops with the kids where they teach them how to make professional phone calls and how to choose clothing that is appropriate for the kind of job they have).
Meanwhile, back at the shop...Kids and adults who have difficulty abiding by basic ground rules are all given fair warning before they're asked to leave (unless one does something WAY out of line, but we've been working hard to stop things before that happens). We've asked more adults than children to leave.
As for the kids who are looking for a place to hang around and test boundaries, rather than repair bikes, they have come and gone. Their needs are too great for us. The best we can do is offer support for bike repair and a compassionate community for willing participants on a few days out of the week.
As for thieving adults, what bothers me the most are the folks who take things and then flip them on Craig's List. Not cool.
Finally, greeting people as they arrive, asking them to sign in, and providing a monthly volunteer orientation helps us keep things positive in the shop.
-rachael
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