The Listening to Our Teens Network opened its doors in September. Travis Herbert brings a wealth of experience to his role as Campus Director. An intensive, collaborative process over the spring/summer involvied middle school students in the design and selection of a name and logo for the After School Program in the Asheville Middle School. This year there will be three 8-week sessions. The first 8-week session includes 22 after school offerings that range from academic help to sports, art, community service, music, dance, slow foods, foregin language clubs, outdoor adventure and more. The catalogue is an impressive array of activities that excited more than 200 students to register!
The website for IRL is designed to attract students and engage them actively in this program. They will continue to be engaged in program design and selection, marketing and PR, and evaluation, feedback, and learning. The students put together their own rap, marketing video, which is viewable on the website as well.
We are now turning our attention to developing a governance structure that will allow for full voice, full engagement, and a continued sense of collaboration among the community. We have a relatively flat organization structure and we are currently entertaining integrating a dynamic governance process. Stay tuned!
