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CITY’S YOUTH TALK CHANGE FOR PB

By Jeannie Nugent/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 9:58 AM CDT

There was plenty of the expected giggling, self-conscious fidgeting and clowning around from the hundred or so teenagers packed into a room at the Pine Bluff Convention Center Tuesday at the fourth installment of the brain-storming sessions about the future of Pine Bluff.

But what was unexpected was the polished and passionate use of such phrases as “infrastructure,” “downtown revitalization,” or “rehabilitation opportunities.”

The meeting — which differed from previous sessions because it was only open to high school and college students — followed the usual set-up. The teens were broken up into several small groups and armed with a flip chart, markers, and an adult facilitator.

Each group was asked to compile a list of changes they would like to see enacted to better fit their vision of Pine Bluff’s future. From there, the group whittled it down to five priorities, selected a teen spokesman then presented their visions to the rest of the participants.

Carnita Whimper, 19, is a sophomore at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. When the clock started ticking, she immediately picked up the blue and green foam globe in the middle of the table, indicating it was her turn to speak at her round table session.

“We need a workforce program for convicted felons,” she said, leaning forward to emphatically make her case.

Alyndria Thompson, 18, a Pine Bluff resident who is attending Hampton University in Virginia, shook her head in agreement then added her own two cents.

“We need better communication. We need it on the front page of the newspaper when we are doing well. It needs to be emphasized what is working for the city,” she said. “You see the negative, but there needs to be more positive things.”

The group’s facilitator Kay McElveen, corporate training director for Simmons First National Bank, encouraged them to be more specific.

“What other modes of communication do the youth use?” she asked.

“Internet,” Thompson answered, eliciting nods and smiles of agreement from her team.

Brente Bishop, 20, a sophomore at UAPB, wants more recreation activities for high-school aged students. An event center that provides a swimming pool, basketball court, and competitive events, would keep the kids off the streets and out of trouble, she said.

“I think if they asked more kids for their opinion, they would actually get to the truth of what’s happening,” Bishop said. “This is our future. This is what we really need to do.”

McElveen agreed.

“Of course we had a very small group, but I thought we got a lot of excellent ideas from some young people who are very interested in what goes on in the future for Pine Bluff and are willing to do more,” McElveen said. “I was very impressed. I think the future of the city is bright if we can keep the young people here.”

When the floor opened up to the whole room, spokesmen from each group vocalized several common threads — youth recreation, youth jobs, financial aid for college and shopping — lots of shopping.

The young opinions also mirrored those of previous adult sessions. They spoke of keeping the city clean, rehabilitating the aging downtown buildings, public safety, economic development and housing.

One of the most surprising themes among the groups, perhaps, was how passionately the students wanted to provide safe and affordable housing options for their grandparents.

“Everybody loves grandparents!” said Justin Bryant, 16, of White Hall High School.

Dionte’ Brown, 15, of Pine Bluff High School, said the meeting was empowering.

“I thought it was a good motivational thing to come to and decide what is the future of Pine Bluff,” he said. “I felt good about it because I know some of my ideas went into making Pine Bluff better.”

A fifth session for interested citizens, business and community leaders will be held from noon until 1 p.m. today at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch to the latter session.

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