Parents

A Letter to Parents from the Program Director

Dear Parent,

Just like you, I’m the parent of a teenager. And like you, I attempt to guide my teen toward activities that are challenging, fun, and safe.

I especially like programs that provide him an opportunity to learn leadership skills and those that look good on job applications and college admission forms. Even more than that, though, I look for experiences that resonate with the values our family holds close – equity, justice, relationships and a commitment to community.

I’ve been with Unity Center for Youth leadership for 8 years. I’m committed to this unique program because I have seen first hand what it did for my own teens. I’ve seen how it helped them make friends with youth from different backgrounds, races and cultures. I watched them become more conscious of the impact of race, economics, and culture on their friends, themselves and on their communities. I’ve heard them ask “WHY?” as they’ve listened to the nightly news expose the horrors of border crossings.  I’ve seen them live out their commitment to just by the way they treat other people and form their relationships.

You know as well as I that our teens are living in a different world.  The issues they have to deal with today affect them every day.  Violence.   Drugs.   Bullying.   Unsafe schools.   Not enough jobs.  The high cost of college.

The hopeful part is that there are solutions to these issues and those solutions are most often found in relationships and in working together.

Unity Center provides a safe, fun and yet challenging space for youth to build relationships while they learn and work together.    Our program offers an integrate pathway of distinct opportunities for youth who want to learn about justice or those that already are passionate about justice.  Whether your teen is just beginning to ask “Why?” or has already been firmly grounded in the values of equity and justice, Unity has something to offer him or her. Check out the teens page or give me a call to find out more about who we are and what we do.

Martin Luther King said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

I hope you’ll explore Unity Center as a place for your teen to practice living their life as a voice for change.

Debra Rodgers
Unity Center for Youth Leadership

PS:  To learn a little about our history, values, and mission visit the history page.

PPS:  Yes, the picture to the right is my son Chaz and I.