Teen Power

Here’s a tip to anchor a family to your community – offer the teenagers a way to volunteer and make a difference in their neighborhoods. When doing this, you are more apt to keep the families as residents, as the teens feel involved, happy, and have a chance to make friends in your neighborhood.

Did you know that nearly three out of five teens volunteer (according to an article in USAWeekend.com)? No matter your age, everyone feels good after helping others. Here are three examples of teens making a difference.

#1 Teaching Others To Read
Pairing up with the librarian and schoolteachers in Muldrow, Oklahoma, Kyle Alderson, 14, created READ (Reading Encourages All Dreams). Kyle and 27 high school students met with children in the first through fourth grades in the Muldrow library to help them learn to read. (USAWeekend.com)

#2 Tutoring The Younger Ones
Laurel Tree Apartments in the San Diego area (a Rent & Retain subscriber!) boasts the proud honor of having the San Diego Tribune’s January, 2007 “Teens Making A Difference” winner.

Recognized for her efforts at Laurel Tree Apartments, Jessica Pliego helps tutor younger students with their homework and helps others using the computers in the technology center. She is also involved with the Boys & Girls Club. (San Diego Tribune, January, 2007).

#3 Adopt An Apartment
VolunteerMatch.com offered a chance for teens to “Adopt An Apartment” for folks living in Kansas City, MO. The teens decorated and organized an apartment for a family who had lost everything. (VolunteerMatch.com)

Easy To Do
Poll the teenagers and parents who live at your apartment community to see if they’d like to be part of a volunteer project this spring. Look at the calendars of this Rent & Retain (pages 20-21) for community service ideas to propose to teens and parents. Here are some quick ones:

March Is:
…American Red Cross Month (hold a blanket drive or food drive)
…Youth Art Month (host an art show showcasing the artwork of your neighborhood kids)
…Music In Our Schools Month (will the bigger kids host a recital for the smaller ones in your community?). Or, host a musical instruments drive. This is similar to a canned-food drive, just ask for instruments instead of food. Accept pre-owned musical instruments and donate them to your local schools.

Productive Teens Mean Happy Teens. Happy Teens Mean Happy Parents.
Give the teens an opportunity to volunteer or participate in the community. Of course, offer these opportunities in compliance with all Fair Housing laws, and check with your attorney before implementing. It can’t hurt to give one of these ideas a try – and you’ll feel great for spearheading a way to make a difference in your town!

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