Partnership will focus on youth

 By Amy Westerman/Staff Writer

Inspired by a 2001 study, the city of Huntsville and Huntsville's Promise has formed six committees to impact the lives of Huntsville youth. Now the committees need volunteers to serve as members.

A May 2001 survey by the Minneapolis-based Search Institute assessed  Huntsville ISD students using 40 criteria including self-esteem, perception of personal power, family support and motivation.

The study indicated Huntsville is about on par with the rest of the nation, but the Search Institute recommended measures to improve youth health and well-being, said Kacey Krystyniak, executive director of Huntsville's Promise, a group that enables communication and cooperation between institutions and organizations in the city.

 In February, about 150 community leaders from Huntsville discussed  the study and decided to create committees targeted to specific areas within the community, Krystyniak said. Each committee will work to coordinate programs and educate particular segments of the Huntsville community.

"A lot of it's just increasing communication and getting people talking to each other," she said.

Although the city and Huntsville's Promise sponsor the committees, the committees are run by the members, she said.

"The committees are pretty much autonomous," Krystyniak said. "It's very much community led."

 The church committee will work to coordinate programs among youth groups, perhaps so several groups can volunteer at the same time, she said.

The community leader committee will work with businesses and institutions in town to encourage employees to become involved in youth programs.

 The arts committee will encourage youth involvement in arts programs in the city. The parents and educators committees will each educate their target groups on how they can encourage positive qualities, such as motivation and self-esteem, in youth.

This is what I did background research for as City Manager Intern in Huntsville. It's pretty exciting that it is up and running now.

The students committee, which will have several high school students on it,  will act as an advisory board, letting the other committees know where students spend time and what their interests are, Krystyniak said.

She said she feels the committees fill a need in the community and  enable residents to become involved in the lives of Huntsville's children.

"I think there's a lot of people in the community who are interested in helping youth, but there's not an outlet," Krystyniak said.

Those interested should contact Huntsville's Promise to indicate which meetings they will attend at (936) 291-5950. Each meeting will  be held at  City Hall.

There is no age limit, although if someone under 16 is interested in a committee, their parents are asked to either attend the meetings with them or sign a release form.

 The Huntsville Item

 July 1, 2002