An Aspen student teaches Kelly Michel to fingerpaint blindfolded. Photo by Martha Katko
Alex Zubelewicz and Jorge Silva-Banuelos study renderings of the new Teen Center. Photo by Martha Katko
The Leadership Los Alamos Class of 2015 participated in a Youth session last week at Fuller Lodge. The session was chaired by Sylvan Argo, director of the YMCA Teen Center, and Michelangelo Lobato, school counselor at Chamisa Elementary School.
Throughout the day, the class was introduced to multiple organizations and individuals who focus on services for youth in Los Alamos. One class member commented “I wish you would have been available in my youth. I would be a different person today. Thank you for being in the youth of Los Alamos’ lives.” Another one said “it’s comforting to know we have this bunch helping our youth!”
The class experienced some mindfulness exercises used with youth designed to center and calm. They viewed a layout of the new teen center and viewed several videos written and produced by teens from the teen center. The videos focused primarily on the impact of the teen center and also delved into teen’s views on depression.
Later in the afternoon, they were joined by youth from Aspen Elementary School and Los Alamos High School and were challenged to be kids through a variety of activities. “I loved working with the kids and being a kid!” commented one class member.
The class consists of 20 individuals who represent Los Alamos National Bank, Los Alamos County, Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos National Laboratory, UNM-LA, the LANL Foundation, Los Alamos Medical Center, the Chamber of Commerce and stay-at-home moms.
For more information on Leadership Los Alamos, visit http://leadershiplosalamos.com/.
Leadership Los Alamos participants listen to a panel of youth service providers. Photo by Martha Katko
Eric Edmonds using speaker timing lights. Photo by Martha Katko
Geoff Goins and an Aspen student get ready to go through the maze. Photo by Martha Katko
Class members learn about growing up in Los Alamos from teen center youth. Photo by Martha Katko
