Thank you for your coverage of the New Start Youth Program moving to Salmon Creek Elementary School. I attended the community meeting (June 6) with students and staff from New Start, Highline School District, King County Work Training Program and residents from the Salmon Creek neighborhood.

As neighborhoods change and new programs, businesses, or schools are located in the area, it's very important for residents to be informed and involved. I support Salmon Creek neighbors engaging the school district.

However, I had concerns regarding some of the comments made about New Start students at the meeting.

While most of the meeting participants stated support of the New Start program, there was a clear "not in my neighborhood" attitude. There were comments labeling New Start students as "gang kids," predictions of increases in graffiti if the school relocates and concerns about the appropriateness of "these teens" interacting with younger kids at the local bus stop. These comments revealed neighbors' beliefs that the teens were not to be trusted and suspicions of the youths' intentions.

The students attend New Start because they want to make positive change for their education. New Start is the only alternative school in the area that provides the chance for young people to succeed where they previously struggled. These students are from this neighborhood and want to engage positively in their community. Twelve New Start students attended the two-hour community meeting outside of normal school hours, on their own time, because the program is so important to them. They have participated in numerous positive neighborhood projects. New Start students are responsible for creating many of the beautiful murals around White Center, meant to prevent graffiti in the neighborhood, not increase it.

When youth feel connected to their neighborhood and supported by their community, they are more likely to succeed. The more positive places youth have to go and activities to take part in, the less likely they are to be involved in the negative activities. New Start is one of the few programs that provides those positive opportunities for youth. Their current building is simply inadequate to the serve the academic and social needs of the students. Any change that improves education for youth seems to me to be an improvement for the entire community.

Judging by the students' faces in the room during the meeting, I don't think they felt much support from the community. How could they, when being labeled as "gang involved" and told that it's not appropriate for them to be around younger children.

It's important to advocate for school safety and prevent youth violence, but please consider the perspective and contributions of New Start students at the next discussion of the school's relocation.

Kathy Kaminski

coordinator

Drug Free Communities

White Center