Since HOME receives funds from the City of Salem, we are required to briefly present our program annually at a City Council meeting. Advisory board members suggested I bring our CREW along when I spoke early in June. The CREW consists of youth from HOME who meet regularly and perform community service projects. The group also received a small grant from the City as part of the Teen Action Team Program, were the only group not affiliated with a high school yet are one of the most active of those teams.
It sounded like a great idea but it meant getting CREW members to City Hall on a night that HOME had to close early due to lack of staff. CREW had to get themselves to City Hall from HOME without an adult since we didn’t have staff to walk them the several blocks from HOME to City Hall.
There was some confusion during the day amongst CREW as to where City Hall is located and I wasn’t sure who, if any, would show up. When I arrived I was so proud and thrilled to see there were 8 of them waiting. I explained that I would introduce them and talk about how wonderful they are. Which I did. After my brief speech, I asked CREW members to stand up and the Mayor and City Council members all clapped for them. I had mentioned that I didn’t “bring” CREW; they all walked there. The Mayor said to CREW that she hoped that would not be the only time they’d ever attend a City Council meeting and thanked them for coming.
It was very cool experience for CREW!
