Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center and educators sign pact to help youth

An unusual partnership was formed this week to create safer streets by providing activities, job skills and hopefully jobs for youth in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center.

The suburban mayors joined leaders from three area school districts and two community colleges at the signing of an agreement to create the Brooklyn Bridge for Youth Alliance.

The alliance is the result of several years of community surveys and planning on how best to keep youth gainfully occupied and out of trouble. Brooklyn Center got involved a year ago after a conference of police and community leaders was held on reducing crime. Research showed that burglary and other crime spiked after schools close.

"It was too big for one group or agency" to handle, said Matt Norris, 20, a part-time youth planner for Brooklyn Park. So the alliance was formed to combine resources and ideas.

"It is an opportunity I believe we can't afford to overlook," Brooklyn Center Mayor Tim Willson told others who signed the agreement Tuesday at Brooklyn Park City Hall.

Brooklyn Park Mayor Steve Lampi noted that studies by the Police Executive Research Forum "show a clear link between youth and crime.... The city has a responsibility to do things that will reduce crime."

County libraries in the two cities have offered computer labs and classes for youth, and the Brooklyn Park library will offer a job skills class this spring, including résumé and interviewing tips, said senior librarian Sherry Anderson.

Other signers of the joint-powers agreement were leaders from the Osseo, Brooklyn Center and Anoka-Hennepin school districts, North Hennepin Community College and Hennepin Technical College, both in Brooklyn Park.

A survey in 2005 found residents were concerned about juvenile crime and a shortage of youth activities, and the city hired teenagers last summer to survey more than 1,000 Brooklyn Park youth to identify their needs. Norris said the survey identified six needs:

• Safe places for youth to learn job skills and socialize.

• Transportation, perhaps a circulator bus system.

• Help preparing for and finding jobs.

• Better communication by Internet, text messaging or otherwise, to make youth aware of job openings and other activities. The city has created a youth website.

• Improved inter-generational relationships through mentorships, workshops or other activities.

• Reduced teen pregnancy and drug use and reduced teen crime, including gang violence.

A survey of more than 1,000 students this week in Brooklyn Center's middle and senior high schools will help generate ideas for program development, said Jim Glasoe, parks and recreation director.

Brooklyn Park hopes to set up a youth job training center and a youth business, perhaps a coffee or ice cream shop, with mentoring from adults, said Norris, a U of M business major. The city is applying for a $2.5 million federal grant from Health and Human Services for those proposals, said Jan Ficken, recreation program manager.

North Hennepin Community College lets youth use its library computers in summer months and also has ball fields and a low ropes course available, said President Ann Wynia.

"For young people to be successful ... we have to start when they are young," Wynia said. "An integrated community response gives young people the opportunity to learn social as well as academic skills and relationship skills.... My hope is that working together we can all do more for young people." Jim Adams • 612-673-7658