Youth Mapping

            On our streets this winter and spring, you may see some teens with blue clipboards and “Mapper” tags.  Invite them in—it’s a part of a Community Youth Mapping Project directed by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.  In cooperation with the Sheriff’s Youth Congress, over 100 students are canvassing their neighborhoods in search of possible entries to be included in a new electronic youth activities directory.  In 35 locations nationwide, the Community Youth Mapping Project has helped adolescents find places and people that can help them or point them somewhere safe and “fun.” Experts identify boredom as a major problem for adolescents.  This mapping creates a youth developed inventory of ways to grow past that boredom.  It also gives our community a chance to listen to our youth and involve them in civic activities.

             Community Youth Mapping is deceptively simple:  young people identify resources they feel are important in their community.  In other places, teens have found things they didn’t know.  In Seattle, youth went to an aquarium and found it provides marine biology classes, space for youth to meet, and information on marine biology scholarships. In Pinellas County Florida, youth intentionally skipped mapping a pool hall.  The owner came out and asked why he wasn’t being mapped, and they told him all pool halls were being skipped as they served liquor and had no youth opportunities.  They then found out that two days a week the pool hall closed down for youth nights, with poetry slams and all sorts of “safe” activities for young people.

            You may be able to suggest things they haven’t thought of, and point them to hard to find resources.  In Baltimore, young people walked into a psychic.  When asked why they were there, they responded that a true psychic would know.  Laughing and entering into conversation, the psychic directed them to a service with no sign on the door.

           Our survey results will be compiled in an computerized directory that will be used to educate local youth and adults about what is—and isn’t—available in our community.  Once you’re “mapped,” you’ll get a sticker for your window that guides our future surveying as well as demonstrates support of this project.  If you have something to offer our local teens and they don’t find you, email Clare at [email protected] and Get Mapped!

Clare O’Connor is the new Director of Workforce Development at the Chamber.  The former director of the region’s School to Careers Partnership, she is combining a focus on youth with attention to the workforce development needs of our members.