Angela Johnson, Community Prevention Project Coordinator, facilitated a town hall meeting in late April for La Center United. The prevention group asked community members to give their perspectives on issues facing youth, and they captured those perspectives on a poster that they built during the meeting. Angela worked with the ESD Communications team to design and print a blank tree poster for the activity, and she cut out dozens of green and yellow leaves.

Hopes & Concerns tree

During the meeting, community members and coalition leaders used the roots to write down all of the available resources and protective factors in La Center. They then talked about all of the risk factors or problems areas that they saw in their community, symbolizing those concerns with the yellow leaves. Lastly, they talked about what they hoped for La Center youth and brainstormed ways they could achieve those goals. They symbolized those hopes with the green leaves.

Angela says, “When we were done we could easily see how the roots in our community provided nutrients to help our community grow. These established resources help nourish the rest of the tree to help new opportunities grow and make the problem areas healthier. It helped us visualize how we are all connected and that if we work together, we can make La Center a safe and healthy community for all.”

Very cool idea, Angela! Great job!