Sell Out Sunday

Below is a description of a series of weekly events that the students of North Hagerstown High School, Boonsboro High School, and I have been working on. When talking to these teenagers as a Drivers Ed teacher for the past ten years, one of their biggest complaints is that there is not a place for them to get together and “hang out”. Our mission is to ultimately give today's young adults of the community something safe to do. Our venue will allow them to socialize with peers of their age in a mature atmosphere, but without being under the influence of drugs and alcohol. S.O.S Hagerstown's newest "under 21" hang-out, is finally putting the youth at the forefront in Hagerstown. There has been a clearly identified need to provide a positive place for our young adults to take part in. Unlike other "teen clubs" or "teen night events", it will not only provide a fun and safe atmosphere with constructive activities, but they will be able to take part in the planning and overall success of the events. S.O.S aims to improve the lives of young people in Hagerstown and enhance their opportunities during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. These events will be geared to middle school students, high school students, and college students under 21. S.O.S will be open to the young adults of the Hagerstown area. Each month, we plan to hold one night for the middle schools, one for the high schools, and one for the college students. By developing a combination of "teen" and "college" led forums, they will develop skills that will teach them how to work in partnerships, volunteering and community service. S.O.S provides a welcoming space that doesn't intimidate young people, but appeals to the younger college students. It's a place where both age groups can explore and meet people who enjoy similar things while having a great time. To ensure the safety of our kids, "Sell Out Sunday" strives to guarantee a "Zero Tolerance" policy. We intend to provide a full roster of adult staff members including professional security and voluntary support by experienced youth workers. In order for this to succeed we hope to continue to receive support from anybody who would like to take part in fostering our youth towards positive outcomes. Even though this is not a school function, because these events will be focusing on your students, we believe that we would have the best outcome if your school would help aid us in spreading the word about S.O.S We welcome any suggestions and comments and thank you for your support.