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January 2016 Serving Danville Teen Esteem: Engaging the Empowering Effects of Teen Advisory Board By Linda Summers Pirkle “The level of engagement and thoughtfulness of the students in our Self-Respect By Jody Morgan Teen Advisory Board is off the charts!” says Chris Gray, Adult and Teen Esteem was established in 1994 to equip adolescents and their parents with tools essential to making intelligent, well-informed, and often courageous choices when confronted with the plethora of pressures that can make being or raising a teenager intensely stressful. By encouraging each student to recognize his or her unique qualities as admirable attributes, Teen Esteem effectively builds a platform of self-respect and respect for others from which young adults, pre-teens, and even elementary school students can evaluate enticements to engage in harmful behaviors. Committed to addressing the lures proffered and the distress potentially produced by each emerging trend, the non-profit is able to provide accurate and timely information to give every individual with whom they connect a better chance to maximize personal potential and avoid making damaging decisions. Emphasis on academic achievement and success in competitive sports begins taking its toll on children as early as pre-school. Lacking belief in their own talents or feeling excluded by their peers causes youngsters to give up on life. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for children aged 10-14. Depression is diagnosed in 1 in 20 children aged 9-17. Prescription drug abuse (with 47% of teens reporting their knowledge of ease of access to these substances) is an escalating problem. But simple recitation of horrifying statistics is not the approach that has won Teen Esteem the praise of students, parents, teachers, and administrators. One education professional writes: “The presentation was exactly what I hoped for: honest and realistic, but with hope and practical help for parents. I liked that it wasn’t just a ‘shock’ value presentation, but gave parents tools of how to talk to their students, and things they could actually do.” Students find Teen Esteem’s message reassuring. Here are a few of their comments. “You guys inspired me to respect myself.” “I know I am not permanently damaged by my past.” “I really got the chance
Teen Services Librarian at the Danville Library. Also known as TAB, the Teen Advisory Board at the Danville Library began in 2004. Recently 42 local teens were chosen to be on the Teen Advisory Board, and their first meeting of the year took place at the Danville Library. The Teen Advisory Board group meets once a month for the school year, and
Chris Gray, Adult & Teen Services Librarian and members of the Danville Teen Advisory Board: Abby McCarthy , Lauren Edelman, and Erika Nolan.
as Gray says, the teens have so many other commitments that finding a day that works for the majority of the students can be a challenge. One of the requirements is to attend the meetings throughout the year with no more than three unexcused absences. “Otherwise, I just ask for their engagement, energy, and ideas—which they’re quite willing to contribute!”
See TAB continued on page 16
Historic Icons of the San Ramon Valley By Beverly Lane
Calling buildings “icons” may be a stretch, but in the case of five buildings in the Museum’s new Historic Icons of the Valley exhibit, the word fits. Featured in this months’ article is the Danville Hotel and the San Ramon Store.
Danville Hotel Dedicated Teen Esteem Volunteers like Adam, Tim, and Jill have presented tools for making informed and beneficial choices to over 150,000 local students.
A Danville Hotel has been significant from the beginnings of American settlement. When Henry Harris opened the boarding house in 1858, other stores were established to serve the rural population. Harris became postmaster of the first Danville post office in his hotel in 1860. The building became what all these early post offices were: the center of town, a place where people gathered ostensibly to get their mail and actually to catch up on their world. When this first hotel burned down in 1873, it was quite a loss. The post
to hear that I deserved a fresh start, and that I had better chances.” “It was a moment when I considered myself for once to be happy with myself.” How does Teen Esteem translate the discouraging message inherent in delivering a discourse dependent on unadulterated facts into an insightful and encouraging formula for success? The organization’s focus on the positive begins with founder Linda Trumbull’s personal dedication. “I am passionate about helping kids realize that their value is not based on performance, and that they deserve to be treated with respect,” she explains. Equally dedicated volunteers train to discuss issues teens face with a constructive emphasis on decision-making based on belief in one’s own personal worth. Topics covered include substance abuse, relationships, eating disorders, communication, sexual assault, stress, anxiety, depression, and internet/social media. As fast as new trends in experimentation with alcohol and drug use emerge, their pace is outstripped by the proliferation of Danville Hotel innovative technological temptations. Facebook was launched in 2004, a decade after the founding of Teen Esteem. No one office shifted to one or another of the general See Teen continued on page 22 stores along Front Street for the next decades. The second Danville Hotel was built after PRSRT STD 1891 across from the new railroad depot to U.S. Postage serve passengers arriving in the village from PAID Local the Southern Pacific Railroad. Run by the McPermit 263 Postal Customer Alamo CA Cauley family (who baked renowned pies), it symbolized the growth of Danville as the ECRWSS
See Icons continued on page 13
Volume VII - Number 3 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher editor@ yourmonthlypaper.com The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.