Just a note: If you click on the above banner it will take you to a site
where we have tee-shirts, hats, buttons etc. with NNHT logo's
or make your own uniquie itemsthat can be purchased to
help raise funds for NNHT so we can help offset costs for programs, meetings etc
All proceeds will go directly to NNHT
Come to our next meeting, share your thoughts and be part of the solution. We do not pretend to have the answers, but we have the energy and committment to work together to try to make things better for our city.
Pure and simple - it is about the kids. We need more people and groups to get involved - not less. We need to work together and not fight so much. We will get much more accomplished by collaborating with each other.
I will end this with quote that I read the other day:
Collaboration: Be the light that others can come to with their ideas, visions and dreams. Never doubt that blending your talents with those of others can change the world.
Now let’s start changing the world - together!
NNHT (Norwalk Neighbors Helping our Teens) is a collaberative effort by teens, parents city officials, clegy and those who just care enough to get involved in helping our teens through the tough times of growing up and to help them find alternatives to gangs, violence and personal dilemma’s.
The group, created by former Councilwomen Joanne Romano, includes Councilman Rick McQuaid and Norwalk resident MaryBeth Becker as well as people who have shown great interest in our children’s future.
We had our first organizational meeting on Wed. Feb. 6th at 7PM at the Norwalk YMCA.
In Light of recent and not so recent situations that affect all of our teens, we are organizing a city wide outreach committee (much like the neighborhood associations) to address and take positive steps toward helping all Norwalk Teens. The meetings will be comprised of students, teachers, city officials, persons from all corners of Norwalk and people who are educated to interact with teens on a professional basis. We will be reaching out to representatives from the clergy, the 3 high schools (students), police, City Hall, and 1 student from each middle school and parents. those interested in being a part of our teens every day lives and the problems they face growing up and fitting in and are willing to participate in round table discussions with teen representatives and hold neighborhood meetings to include those who would not normally be able to attend meetings outside their neighborhoods, to discuss where we can help our teens in Norwalk. We want this to be a continued effort that will not go by the wayside because there is a decline in activity. We want to be an integral part of all neighborhoods because the problems with teens extend beyond those of gangs. We want to get involved in the activities offered teens and we want to have a better focus on what they think, how they feel and what they believe is lacking. We want to create awareness of teen problems and we want to find ways to steer them towards a better future. We feel that many organizations have been started and then seem to disappear when people lose interest or we don't hear about problems of great magnitudes. Parents and teachers as well as students are our best resource for information and suggestions and open dialog among these groups is an important step in helping teens move in the right direction.
We need to reach out to our teens in their own environment and surroundings to get an understanding of what is happening in their lives and how we can help them through the tough times. We plan to look for programs to inspire teens and to help them form their futures in a positive direction. We will be looking into forming scholarships for 1 student in each of our three high schools in Norwalk who have shown the most progress in turning their lives around and going on to college.
We are positive that this can be a successful group because we are looking at Norwalk as a whole and not just those who live in certain parts of town. Not all teens that have problems come from low income or minority households; teen problems face everyone and know no boundaries. We need to stop putting labels on our kids and look at them as a whole. But most importantly we need to start listening to them and let them tell us what they feel and how we can be an important part of their lives