Maxwell Park Neighborhood News

by Sarah Hipolito

Maxwell Park Neighbors Partner With Allendale Recreation Center

Can the community influence youth recreation programs?

Sure we can! We all have something to share. Do you remember going to the recreation center after school? Did you spend your summers there too? Years ago, parents relied upon the local recreation center to provide supervision and growth-oriented activities to their children.

Michael Foster, director of Allendale Recreation Center (3711 Suter St.), is forming an alliance with the Maxwell Park Community-Building Neighborhood Action Team (CBNAT) to expand community involvement in programming.

Why is Maxwell Park concerned with the Allendale Neighborhood? They want to reach out to neighboring districts to form a larger community. They were looking for a way to extend beyond the connection made with Youth Uprising (at last summer's Day in the Park) to reach out to more youth in Oakland. The partnership between the NAT and the Center is a natural connection. It didn't hurt that Michael shared his talents as a face painter at our Day in the Park!

Their first step is building the Recreation Center's Community Board, which will consist of members who review, organize, and support new programs at the Center.

Next, they will create a Community Skills Database to allow community members to list their skills to be used for new classes and enrichment programs for the youth and other Allendale Recreation Center community members. The database will allow volunteers to lend their time in the way they know best, through their hobbies and professional skills. If you have a passion for playing pool, you could go to the Center regularly to shoot pool with the kids and teach them the hand/eye coordination needed to sink a ball in the pocket. A mediation expert could lead a teenage/young adult conflict-resolution session.

And they will help Michael Foster bring his Anti-Violence/Violence-Prevention Conference to fruition. He is currently recruiting volunteers to assist with the planning effort.

Other programs will include computer software learning, art, sewing, and current events to benefit youth by keeping them engaged in the community and the center. There could be programs related to a specific focus, like Women's Studies for Women's Month. Michael welcomes the community to contribute their expertise in creating new programs. A ceramics expert is currently restructuring the art program. Share your talents come join in the fun!

Earthquake Reminder

Mark your calendars to participate in the citywide emergency response exercise on Saturday, April 28. Bring the whole family and use the information gained to start your preparations at home. It will be held in Maxwell Park.

Contacts

Michael Foster, Allendale Recreation Center, mfoster\@oaklandnet.com, 535-5635

Krista Gulbransen, CBNAT, krista_gulbransen\@yahoo.com

Nick Stoughton, Maxwell Park Emergency Response Team (MPERT), nick\@msbit.com