Lakeland Area Community Meetings

·         There were about 18 people at the meeting this evening. 
 
·         Lynne Currie made an announcement about a meeting for those concerned about the school funding cuts.  The first meeting of the Northwood’s Alliance will be on Thursday June 5, 2008 at 4pm in the cafeteria at the AVW school.  You can reach Lynne for more info at: lcurrie@avw.k12.wi.us or (715) 356-3282 ext. 201
 
·         Introductions around the circle.  Charlotte Hockings and SuAnne Vannatter facilitated the meeting this evening, focusing on how to share the video with the community.
 
·         Charlotte provided background on the video created by 3 of the 5 boys for those who were not able to see the video at the last meeting.  The end of the boy’s probation time was the end of May.  Only two of the boys completed all of the requirements.  They are waiting to hear what happens for the remaining three boys.
 
·         Beth Tlusty and Cindy Ross were there from the Northwood’s Restorative Justice and answered questions about how the Restorative Justice process works.  Restorative Justice has its roots in Native American culture and is a world wide program.  She also shared that they now have a new location in Woodruff to be in the center of the area they serve.  Below is their new contact info:
o   New Address: 917 2nd Ave
                      Woodruff, WI 54568
 
      Post Office: PO Box 1744
                      Woodruff, WI 54568
                  Telephone: 715-358-2687
 
Ideas for sharing the video with the community
·         Methods of Distribution
o    U Tube
o    Link to a website with the video
o    Copies of the DVD
§  The group decided that it would be best to use copies of DVD’s to maintain control of the video.  Realizing that on the internet the video could be changed.
 
·         People to show video
o    8^th grade students
o    9^th grade students on first day of school as a stop during their tour, with trained high school facilitators to lead discussions
o    Youth groups
o    As part of a church service, or a post-service showing
o    Rotary leadership camp
o    Badger State
o    Clubs and Camps
o    Teacher in-service
o    In classrooms (Mestelle in Leadership class, guidance counselors)
o    Parents and youth together
o    Teen Court: could get ideas from video
o    Diversion Programs in Counties
o    Driver’s Ed classes
o    Use ILI mentors to prep students before they see the video, with adults present
 
·         Important
o    Keep the groups small for viewing so that there can be healthy discussion and good closure
o    Training is necessary so that people have a full understanding of the video and don’t skew the information.
 
·         Video Suggestions
o    Include the outcomes of each of the boys, noting where they are now depending on whether they fulfilled all of the requirements or not so students can see the consequences.
o    Each boy’s segment is 15 minutes
o    Put each boy on a different DVD
o    Add intro with Nick and Charlotte: can use one that Nick already did for Northwood’s Restorative Justice
o    Include photos from Waswaagoning
o    Include media (radio, newspaper articles, news clips)
o    Judge Nielsen’s description
 
·         Ideas
o    Find format that makes it easy to use and accessible
o    Have a website with links and contact information.  Northwood’s Restorative Justice currently does not have a website. 
o    Create one curriculum that works for both adults and youth
o    Ask the boys who were willing to come back for first presentations
o    Provide options of ways to use the video for different focus groups
o    Ask Nicolet if putting the video together could be a project for a student.  Carol Pfister will talk with Nicolet to about this idea.
 
·         Recommended First Steps
o    Copyright video
o    Create curriculum in a way that others can use it within their classroom or program with what they are already doing
o    Nick and Charlotte do the first presentations to try out the curriculum and see what needs to be altered
 
MEETING TO HELP WITH CURRICULUM AND NEXT STEPS
A smaller group will meet during the summer to help the Hockings with the next steps.  Several people signed up to help at the meeting.  If you are interested in helping out, contact Nick and Charlotte Hockings:

• gekinoo1@yahoo.com
• (715) 588-3560

 
Other Topics
·         Need for positive summer options for youth
o    HOPE provides once a month activities
o    Youth express the need for a youth center
·         Importance of families for youth
·         Judge Alice Soulier
o    Thinking of ways to incorporate Restorative Justice sooner
o    Hoping to talk with her staff to discuss this topic
o    Fines do not work
o    It takes time to figure out a new process
·         Ways other community’s incorporate Restorative Justice
o    Police have fake tickets in one community to hand out that refers youth to Restorative Justice.  It takes time to get more of the community involved and to understand the process.
·         In School Suspension
o    Is it possible to have in-school suspension at LUHS
o    If not, is it possible to have LDF students required to meet somewhere in LDF when they have out of school suspension.  Where they have to stay during the school day and complete their homework.
o    Use the youth center as a building for this
o    Out of school suspension started as being used for violence and keeping students safe.  But now it is used for a wide variety.  Research shows that it is not successful.  Students see it as a vacation. 
o    Ask youth for ideas, what they think would work.
 
There will not be a large group July meeting. 
The smaller group will meet to work on the next steps for the video. 
The next large group meeting will be in August. 
We will send out an e-mail later to let you know the date and location.