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<font face="Verdana" size="2">1471 Highland Avenue - Town Hall<br>
Needham, MA 02492<br>
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<font size="5" face="Verdana" color="#0000FF">The History of the Formation
of the </font></p>
<p class="MsoTitle" align="center">
<font size="5" face="Verdana" color="#0000FF">Needham Youth Commission</font></p>
<p class="MsoTitle" align="center">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana">(Original author
unknown; edited by Jon Mattleman)</span></p>
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<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">
<span style="font-family:Verdana"><font size="2">Late in the 1950's, the Community Council of Needham began
to express an interest in the activities of the town�s teen-aged youth.
This interest was not brought about because of any specific youth
problems, rather by a desire to establish communication with that
rapidly increasing segment of the town�s populace, the junior high and
high school youth.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">
<span style="font-family:Verdana"><font size="2">As a result, the
Community Council consisting of representatives of all organized clubs,
youth fellowships, student councils, scouting groups, etc, sponsored a
Youth Committee. This committee was advised by a group of
interested townspeople including a representative of the Needham High
School administration. Meetings of this group were sporadic and
its success, if any, was limited. All of the committee members
were busy with their own group activities and had little time to devote
to this new endeavor.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">
<span style="font-family:Verdana"><font size="2">Many years passed and
at the last session of the 1965 Needham Annual Town Meeting, a motion
was introduced to establish a Youth Study Committee that was charged to
investigate youth activities and programs in the community. This
committee consisted of one member each appointed by the Selectmen,
Finance Committee, the Park and Recreation Commission, and two members
appointed by the Town Moderator. Two high school seniors were also
to be appointed by the Superintendent of Schools. At the 1966
Annual Town Meeting the committee was again continued without funds, and
charged to continue its work in the establishment of a suitable youth
organization in Needham; to participate in the work of this youth
organization; and to serve as a liaison between this organization and
the town. Further, the committee was directed to report at the
next Annual Town Meeting with its recommendations relative to permanent
Youth Council for the Town of Needham.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">
<span style="font-family:Verdana"><font size="2">By this time, there was
growing concern in the community regarding the behavior of youth in the
areas of alcohol use, vandalism to school and private property,
fighting, and suspected misuse of narcotics. The Citizens for Needham
Youth Committee met weekly through the spring --- frequently involving a
significant number of high school youth representing all segments of the
older youth of the town. With the approach of the summer, concern
mounted over possible delinquent behavior on the part of the unemployed
and unoccupied young people, particularly those in the 13 - 16 age
group.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">
<span style="font-family:Verdana"><font size="2">In early July of 1966, the Citizens for Needham Youth
Committee decided to approach the Finance Committee for a special
appropriation of funds to allow for the immediate appointment of a Youth
Program Coordinator and his/her expenses. On July 12<sup>th</sup>
representatives of Citizens for Needham Youth Committee and the youth of
the town met with the Finance Committee with the following
recommendations: </font></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:Verdana"><font size="2">That a
comprehensive and coordinated plan for Needham youth be put into
operation to utilize and coordinate any community facilities already
in existence to help meet youth problems, and that a coordinator be
hired. This person�s responsibility would be to contact and outreach
to youth, develop and establish programs to involve youth
constructively, and to create a socially healthy community in which
youth and their parents can be justly proud.</font></span><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--><tr><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="../_themes/copy-of-blends/blebul1a.gif" width="15" height="15" hspace="13" alt="bullet"></td><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<span style="font-family:Verdana"><font size="2">That youth
conditions go far beyond the problem of strict police patrol --- that
they require prompt and specific action in order to prevent serious
difficulties and certainly to prevent any worsening of the present
situation.</font></span><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family:Verdana"><font size="2">That on the basis
of the several studies and surveys of Needham youth conducted by the
Citizens of Needham Youth Committee, a serious condition exists for
the present summer months in particular as well as the entire year.</font></span><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr>
<!--msthemelist--></table><!--mstheme--><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica">
<p align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana"><font size="2">The
Finance Committee turned down this proposal on the grounds that town
funds were not available for such a program. Although the Citizens for
Needham Youth Committee sponsored a few activities during the summer
months, there was still an obvious increase in drinking, theft,
shoplifting, car stealing, and vandalism during the summer months. It
also came to the attention of the Citizens for Needham Youth Committee
that some involvement with narcotics might be taking place among some of
the older teenage group. By September, the Citizens for Needham Youth
Committee had formed several sub-committees with equal numbers of adult
and youth representatives. One sub-committee was at work compiling a
directory and calendar of activities for youth organizations and
activities, another was developing the rationale for the hiring of a
youth worker, and another was also exploring the possibility of opening
one or more drop-in centers. An Adult-Youth Communications Committee
was also meeting regularly to inspire dialogue between the older and
younger citizens on matters of mutual concern</font></span></div>
<o:p>
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana"><font size="2">Word was spreading in the
Needham community, and the Ministerial Association expressed an interest and
came forth with an offer of support in September for a full-time youth worker
and a program, however, there was no funding available and nothing came of this
offer. Shortly thereafter, another community effort resulted in the formation
of Youth Council which would work with the Citizens for Needham Youth Committee
in furthering the cause of a coordinated youth program.</font></span><p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana"><font size="2">From this point in October,
the movement for a coordinated youth program took shape rapidly. It was decided
that articles should be inserted in the warrant of the 1967 Annual Town Meeting
asking for the creation of a permanent Youth Commission and a full-time Youth
Coordinator. Letters were sent to all town organizations, clubs, official
boards, fraternal groups, youth groups, church groups, etc. to inform them of
the Youth Commission proposal and to let them know that speakers were available
to discuss this proposal. From November until March 1967, adult and youth
speakers made presentations to over seventy groups. </font></span>
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<font face="Verdana" size="2">Members of the</font><span style="font-family: Verdana"><font size="2">
the Citizens for Needham Youth Committee also visited the towns of Arlington,
Brookline, Medfield, Wayland, Cohasset, and Scituate to gather information on
their town-wide youth programs. In all of these communities it had been found
that sustaining a coordinated youth program had been especially difficult when
volunteer assistance was the primary source of staffing. Some of these towns
had appointed full-time youth workers; others were following Needham�s proposal
with interest as they were contemplating establishing a similar service in their
community. </font></span>
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="center">
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana"><font size="2">By February 1967, it had been
learned that the warrant articles to fund a position would be opposed by the
Finance Committee and Taxpayer�s Association. A budget of approximately $15,000
had been proposed and the Finance Committee and Taxpayer�s Association took the
position that the creation of such an department represented an unnecessary
expense. The Selectmen suspected that this would be the beginning of a program
that would ultimately lead to a proposed $250,000 Youth Center. </font></span>
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana"><font size="2">On a community level, many
citizens in the town voiced approval of the Youth Commission idea. However,
they spoke for no organized agencies or boards and it appeared that the cards
were stacked against the Youth Committee�s proposal. On Sunday evening, March 5<sup>th</sup>
the Citizens for Needham Youth Committee sponsored a presentation to explain
their proposal. Small group meetings were held chaired by Citizens for Needham
Youth Committee members and involved leading adults and youths of the town. The
program was attended by close to 800 adults and young people and was
enthusiastically received.</font></span><p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana"><font size="2">The two �youth articles� in
the town warrant opened the discussion at the third session of the Annual Town
Meeting on March 27. After two and one-half hours of heated debate, Article 49
to create the Youth Coordinator and a $12,000 budget for the balance of 1967
drew the greatest opposition. No town group that had offered support presented
speakers on these articles. Therefore, it was up to the Citizens of Needham
Youth Committee and the youth themselves to present their case. Finally, a
representative from the Needham Taxpayer�s Association moved the question. This
motion carried closing debate and the town meeting members voted 124 to 123 to
approve. Following a fifteen-minute recess, a Taxpayer�s Association member
moved reconsideration. This motion carried and the article was reopened for
discussion. At the conclusion of his comments, the Taxpayer�s Association
member again moved the question. This motion carried and the Article was put to
a 129 to 116 vote thus passing.</font></span><p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="center">
<p style="margin:1 5; text-indent: 0; " align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana"><font size="2">This issue was one of the most
interesting and most controversial debates to take place at a Needham Annual
Town Meeting in years. Unfortunately, the appointing agencies, particularly the
Moderator and Finance Committee moved slowly to create the Youth Commission and
appointments were not completed until early August. The Youth Commission then
advertised the position of Youth Coordinator, interviewed candidates and
selected Mr. J. Robert Griffith as the town�s first Youth Coordinator. Mr.
Griffith took office December 1<sup>st</sup> and moved ahead to establish a
coordinated youth program. </font></span>
<p align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana"><font size="2">
Perhaps the most reassuring sign of all occurred without notice in March
of that year when budgets for the coming fiscal year were being crafted
--- the budget of $20,000 for the Youth Commission passed Town Meeting
without comment or opposition.</font></span><!--mstheme--></font></td>
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