Chair Jennifer Liebermann called the Youth Advisory Committee meeting to order on Monday evening at 7:04 PM. Minutes from the February meeting were accepted by the Committee. The appointment of a new member of the Committee is delayed until the next meeting. The Director’s Report, given by Youth and Family Services Director Jacklyn Winer (below) was filled with recent staff activity, COVID-related supports, and opportunities for community involvement.
A temporary 19.5 hour/week position has been posted on the Town of Holliston website to meet the need created by a maternity leave. Among the many activities related by Winer were these:
- Kirsten Rancourt and Winer participated in diversity and equity training in February with Diverse Holliston and Holliston Mindshare entitled “Perception and Change” that was presented by Tonia Walker. During this training, participants developed action points, and Winer said they realized that there is more to be done.
- The March 9 meeting of Holliston Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition discussed the Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant. A stakeholder retreat is planned for the summer.
- Winer participated in the Attorney General’s Office Food Insecurity Forum on February 24. Pandemic-related resources were discussed and shared.“More people qualify than they are aware,” said Winer.
- Winer presented the YFS FY22 Budget to both the Select Board and the Finance Committee last week and awaits the budget vote during the May Town Meeting.
Winer spent some time reviewing the Rent and Mortgage Relief program which has completed two rounds thus far. Tonight Winer was looking for approval to request approval of a third round of funding from the Select Board. The 1st round of funding ($25,000 from the CARES Act) supported 9 families with a maximum grant of $5000. The second round, also supplying $25,000 from the CARES Act, supported 18 families (to a maximum grant of $2000). Winer said if the third round were to be approved, it, too, would prioritize families. The YAC voted to approve the request that funding for this third round be appropriated by the Select Board from CARES Act monies. The application will remain the same. Winer said that she already has families on a Wait List. John Drohan, YAC member and Director of the Holliston Community Action Fund said, “Jackie is doing nothing but good stuff…helping people who really, really need help,” by administering the grants. Winer said she perceives the grants as “not just a handout of money, but a hand up, in a similar way as Habitat for Humanity works.” [Director Winer went from the YAC meeting to the Select Board meeting at which the Board approved the $25,000 request for CARES Act funds.]
Winer introduced her collaboration with Jenn Pipe (Self Esteem Through Art) to develop a COVID Art and Remembrance Project. The premise will involve the Holliston community in a pilot program that reflects on the past year through participants’ use of art to tell a story. The project will involve both youth and adults in the creation of an online gallery that exhibits a variety of perspectives and narratives. The program will roll out next week, so it is not presently open for submissions. Winer encouraged all members of the Youth Advisory Committee to participate.
Winer announced the next Holliston Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition meeting is March 9.
Kirsten Rancourt, YFS Community Therapist and Court Diversion Coordinator, reported that some clients are completing their community service project. The project entailed the creation of a series of suicide awareness yard posters that will appear next month in designated locations. In addition to motivational messages, the posters will share resources.
Both the student YAC representatives, Stephanie Farrell and Brian Sahagian, mentioned students’ hesitancy to return to in-person learning. “Remote learning has become a routine,” said Farrell, “and there are fewer technical issues.” The Committee encouraged Winer to reach out to the HHS counselors concerning the potential for student anxiety in the coming weeks.
John Drohan reported the Holliston Community Action Fund (HCAF) student division now has 24 active students. These students are planning an awareness campaign to share the work of the HCAF. They have completed a thank you project, writing notes of thanks to local food establishments. A town clean up is planned and ready to go when the snow melts.
The next meeting of the YAC is Monday, April 12, at 7 PM. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.
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