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YMCA Teen Task Force
 After ten months with the Teen Task Force, Zoe Tamaki is retiring to start the next phase of her life at UC Berkeley. Here is her farewell letter to her peers, the Teen Center, and you.It’s been almost a year since I joined the Teen Task Force. The past year has probably been one of the most fulfilling and exciting ones of my life. (There are 18 to choose from so that’s pretty good!) Working at the Y, I’ve learned everything from the dangers of asbestos to the importance of professionalism. I’ve seen that colds and enthusiasm are equally contagious. I now know what a lien on a building is and how to file invoices. If I ever need to input a hundred surveys into an excel document again, I know I can do it in two hours. I’ve gained confidence talking to people about who I am and what I believe in. The most important thing I’ve learned while being on the Teen Task Force has been the importance of having passion for what you do. Prior to working on the Teen Task Force, I wanted to be a Biology major who was pre-med. I then saw myself going into medical school, following the path of Sandra Oh (from Grey’s Anatomy), and finally becoming a doctor. But after working at the Y and seeing how excited everyone was when talking about the Teen Center, I realized that learning about X and Y chromosomes did not give me the same euphoric feeling that they had. I’m not saying that I don’t want to be a doctor anymore, but now I’m also considering a career working with teens. I love the Y. The past year has been an incredible experience and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with a group of such amazing people. Zoe was a founding member of the Teen Task Force whose enthusiasm and dedication distinguished her as a leader among her peers. She will be missed at the Teen Center, but we wish her the best as she enters the next phase of her life as a Cal Bear. Encourage Berkeley teens you know to make a difference, like Zoe. The Teen Center is currently accepting applications to the Teen Task Force! Interested applicants should contact Tairinda Rushing, Leadership Manager of the Teen Center, at trushing@bayma.org for more information.
 Being in the photo shoot for the Teen Center was so much fun. It was just like being an America’s Next Top Model Finalist! It was also cool being there for the first time since the roof was taken off because we were finally able to see the sunlight inside the Teen Center. We had to take so many pictures in different poses - all of us felt like models. At one point, the photographer had all of us walk across a small plank bridge, and it felt like we were walking down a runaway. We also had to go under parts that looked so dangerous that we were like, “are you sure you want us down there?” Seeing the photographer hang from one of the CAT machines looked so unsafe, but it was funny trying to watch him balance and take pictures as well. Overall, this was a good experience that I will never forget, even though I didn’t get my hair and make-up done!
 Laura, our LEED consultant, has been incredibly helpful and wonderful throughout the whole Green Education project that Jose, Alex and I are working on. At our last meeting some weeks ago, we went through many ideas about how we could best educate teens in the Teen Center on being green. We brainstormed ideas such as interesting looking recycle bins, fun eco-facts displayed in places throughout the building, a huge television screen to show just how much energy the Teen Center is saving (my personal favorite), and finally a projection onto the wall to show nature at its finest next to the effects of global warming. It was after discussing all these awesome ideas that I realized it's not fair for Jose, Alex, Laura and I to have all this imaginative power to ourselves. We need to share these ideas with the world and open the discussion so other teens can contribute their ideas. Therefore, if you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can teach each others how to be green, realistic or not, we would love to hear them. We want to make this Teen Center innovative and a collaborative effort...so if you have any ideas let us know! Find out more about Laura Billings, our LEED consultant, and Sage Green Development by clicking here.
 One of the most crucial, fascinating and progressive aspects of the Teen Center project has to be our commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness. From day one we knew that being "green" would be an essential part in creating our perfect Teen Center. That is why we hired consultant Laura Billings to advise us on how to be environmentally friendly and obtain the famed LEED Gold Certification for our building. We have been planning the implementation of solar panels, recycled/able materials, low energy systems and many other physical parts of our building. Yet a huge part of going green has also been our plan to have a green education program and set our building up as a green model for other Teen Centers and new projects. This is where Nate Dahl comes in. While Nate's involvement with our project began through his position in the city planning offices, where he aided us in the permit process, he came to us this Monday as a speaker and visionary for the "green" teen center movement. As a project for his graduate studies in sustainability Nate chose to research our Teen Center project and discuss greening teen centers throughout the nation. After he told us to imagine ourselves as members of the board of YMCA of the USA, Nate proceeded to give a very professional and creative presentation on starting up "green" teen centers. The presentation brought up ideas of: what buildings to turn into teen centers, what cities are good starting points for the movement, and how to gain funding and the public's good favor. The primary message was that green teen centers function as portals towards a brighter future. Not only can they help retain our planet's natural beauty and resources and maintain strong economies, but they teach our future leaders, the teens, values of sustainability and good citizenship. In turn, this can produce a cycle of a growing commitment to the good of society and our world. Truly, Nate is the man. I look forward to seeing Nate and these ideas on the big stage where national change may become a reality.
 When I first met our contractors, I thought that their job was pretty simple. But now that I have attended several job-walks with Alex, our general contractor from Pankow, I’ve realized just how complicated his job really is. At the job walks Alex took us around the building and talked about what he does. Renovating a building, looking at floor plans, and making sure that everything goes the according to plan is complicated. It’s clear that Alex is passionate about working on our Teen Center, and I'm glad that the building construction is in good hands. I love seeing people who enjoy their job and who are honest too. It’s important that the firm that we work with cares about the project as much as we do and shows real progress. Alex shared with us that if you like what you are doing in your job or career, then it makes your job easy. I hope that in my future I will end up working in a place where I feel comfortable, enjoy my time, and always want to do my best. We’re sure that our Teen Center is being built by the right people. Find out more about Charles Pankow Builders and Pankow Special Projects by clicking here
 Recently the Task Force was separated into pairs and sent to take turns at the Downtown Berkeley YMCA to promote the Teen Center Project. Our goal was to get people to go online and vote for the Teen Center Project – one of 189 projects up for a $250,000 grant from Pepsi as part of their Refresh Campaign for the month of February. In addition to handing out flyers we tried different methods to spread the word. A couple of ways included giving out flyers at other YMCA branches, putting them up at the cafes in Downtown Berkeley, emailing people that we know, putting links up on Facebook and by other people blogging about us on the internet. This project has also given us an opportunity to meet more people and to give them information about what’s going to be available in the future for their kids at the Center. The whole Teen Task Force is excited about winning and very happy to see that we are working hard together to make our dreams come true. I enjoy telling people about the project while at the YMCA, even though we were ignored once in a while. Every time someone stopped to talk to us, they seemed interested in our work and were willing to help us win money for the future Teen Center. It’s great to hear people saying “yeah we are voting”, “I received your emails”, and “I will vote”. Click here to see the Teen Center Project proposal on the Pepsi Refresh Project site.
 20/20 vision in optometry means that you have perfect vision. The City of Berkeley is striving to improve their "vision" for youth. The 2020 Vision Project is an effort to address Berkeley's equity gap and create a healthier generation by the year 2020. Not only does Berkeley hope to have a vivid future for their youth but they hope to do so within the next 10 years. It's an ambitious goal. I went to my first 2020 Vision meeting a few weeks ago. A diverse group of teens, a handful of adults, and the project leaders were eager to start the education and lifestyle revolution that Berkeley needs. Initially, I was overwhelmed by the amount that they wanted to accomplish. It seemed like so much to do in so little time. We began by translating the goals of the 2020 Vision Project into "teen friendly language." This was something my group struggled with because it dealt with changing some of the ways education in Berkeley worked and there were lots of big words. After reflecting on my 2020 Vision experience, I think the goals are realistic. I’ve learned there is a difference between a vision and a goal. A vision is something you hope for. It’s not necessarily something you'll get the first time, the second time, or even the 100th time, but rather it's something that you strive for. It's almost like striving for perfection, which is sometimes regarded as a bad thing in sports, but working on the 2020 Vision Project made me realize that when it comes to potentially enriching the lives of others and making truly everlasting change you might as well set the goal high so everyone reaps the benefits. It reminds me of how Kanye West says, "You might as well reach for the stars so that you fall on the clouds." Click here for more information on Berkeley’s 2020 Vision for Children and Youth.
 On Monday January 11, Pankow, our contractors, took the Teen Task Force on a tour of the pre-construction building. The previous week, Sterling Environmental, one of our demolition contractors, removed all of the drywall, ceiling and floor tiles, and basically everything else that had made up the interior of the old PG&E payment Center. When I first walked in, I noticed that there were no longer and walls or doors, it was just one big empty room. The tiles were gone, the walls were just cement, and there were huge holes in the ceilings! The room seemed very empty, and pretty large. We even were lucky enough to climb a ladder to the second floor (the stairs have been removed) and look around. On the 2nd floor, there were a bunch of holes in the ceilings and very few walls. Overall, the experience was really neat to be able to see the building in its demolition phases. I can’t wait to see what it looks like at the next walk through!  
 Change. It may sound cliché, but what we need now is change. Change to create a just and equal society. Change in our Berkeley schools. On Thursday afternoon the team crammed into Tracy's car and ventured over to the Young Adult Project building on Oregon Street. We arrived to meet a diverse group of youth from various Berkeley groups, including Youth Together, BYA and Jewish Youth for Community Action for a 2020 Vision meeting. The meeting was meant for Berkeley teens to provide input and suggestions on the draft vision plan made by the 2020 Vision's adult committee. We began by listening to a series of inspirational speeches and stories on the need for change. Then, the group leader from BYA pointed out an important truth. Even though everyone in the room was there to close the achievement gap and integrate classes, we were still separated by race in where we had chosen to sit. This important picture just proves the need for change in Berkeley. By targeting components of Berkeley that affect the lives of students we are taking steps to: provide everyone with the opportunity to thrive, instill the motivation to progress, create healthy living environments, and prepare young children to enter elementary school ready to learn. Eventually we split up into well diversified groups and entered into a deep discussion on how to reform these core causes of the racial achievement gap. We plan to meet next week to present our thoughts and further our discussions. I know, for me, the driving force through this whole process is the hope that I may one day return to Berkeley High and see a racially blended school yard, rather than a concrete slab blotted with different colors in different corners, separated by the walls of racism, paranoia, and hopelessness. To read more about the 2020 Vision for Berkeley's Children & Youth, click here.
 A couple of weeks ago, the first YMCA-PG&E Teen Center board convened. A core group of members (including me!) with a mission. We've set out on an early start to oversee the growth of the board, finances, and program development to benefit the Center. Meeting everyone was great. But meeting unfamiliar faces was even better because it's pretty cool to get to work with people who've just learned about the project but are just as excited about it as me. The first meeting was just introductory, so we haven't officially started anything intense yet, but don't be disappointed, because we will! Now that I’m also a board member, I feel that I have an even bigger responsibility because I have a dual role: a board member and liaison between the Teen Center Task Force and the board. However, I do not feel that this responsibility extends only towards my two positions but also to the community. As Peter Parker’s (Spider-Man) uncle Ben once said, “Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility.” It'll be great to stick around on the board and see how the Teen Center develops after the Task Force is done with construction. I'm sure we'll be pioneering the Teen Center to new heights.
 Since the first day that I started working on the Teen Center Task Force, I have wondered when we would to start construction. Well, now is the time. I am so excited to see how we are going to transform the PG&E payment center into a beautiful teen center. Throughout these two years that I have been working on this project, we have gone through many fun, interesting, disappointing, and sometimes stressful moments, but we have always kept our goals clear. We need to get this project done; we need to provide a safe place for teens to go. Now that construction is coming up, I feel very happy because all the hard work the Teen Task Force has put into to this project will finally turn into a successful teen center. Luckily, our contractor will take us through the building once a month and take time to explain the renovation process. Their work seemed easy initially; but when we started talking about how we were going to keep parts of the building and at the same time build new things, I just wanted to hide. Still, the entire Teen Center Task Force is looking forward to starting construction and excited to see our dream come true. Here are a couple of pictures of what the building looks like now. Obviously I can’t wait to see how much this place changes. Let us know if you want a tour before construction is in full force!  
 Telegraph is famous for a lot of things. Cal, Hippies, and the home to revolution. A few weeks ago we visited The Green Youth Media Arts Center at 2781 Telegraph Ave in Oakland. The center advocates for a green lifestyle. It also aims to create a positive place for teens to go and channel their energy into positive and green activities. I liked that most of its interior was recycled and remade from old bits and pieces to fit the needs of the new center. Each room also had a theme: the entrance cove was painted black to represent the womb while the next room was a light airy blue to represent one's first breath. But the thing I liked most about the center was that it was personal and sincere. Everyone we met working there believed in their cause and their compassion was evident everywhere. It was this sincerity that made me feel welcomed, which is an important part of a teen center. Visiting The Green Media Arts Center made me realize how important it is that our teen center be personal and most important, welcoming. Luckily, with all the close work we've done so far, I know we're on our way to create a great center for teens! Also! A special thanks to Galen Peterson for showing us around The Green Youth Media Arts Center! Check out their blog here!
 Just yesterday, we found out that the cost of constructing the Teen Center in its current design is much higher than we can afford. In other words, were simply over-budgeted. As a result, there are some adjustments Pankow has provided. They recommended we take out the permeable pavement and the sun shades in front of the south and west side windows. When Tracy told us the news, I was shocked. These are two defining features of the building which I refuse to just let go of. The permeable pavement is by far one of the coolest features of our building because it allows any water on top of it to seep into the ground and the sun shades help to block out some of the sun, while adding some bold lines to increase the aesthetics. On top of all this, we’ve always been clearly on target for LEED Gold with Platinum at our fingertips. But getting rid of these items might mean we probably won’t reach our dream of Platinum. I don’t want to see these great things about our building lost. They’re some of the features we pushed for, because we wanted them, and I want them back. So once again, we’re attempting to bring in more donations through phone calls and grant writing. Wish us luck!
 Oh it is a colorful world…But what color is it? Last week we had the pleasure of journeying to the offices of Noll & Tam to discuss the colors and designs of our inside walls and ceilings. Coming in, we only knew we wanted the building to be different and artistic. We had only planned the “go” green outside as well as the stairway mural. So when we arrived, our immediate reaction to the mound of color and design samples was to be overwhelmed. There was every color imaginable and an array of what looked like hard bubble wrap, mirrors, wooden replicas of Swiss cheese, and hundreds of different tiles. After a couple hours and a bowl of cheese puffs, we had formulated some ideas. On each of the three floors would be a wall with a separate shade of blue and in large letters one of the words VISION, GROWTH, or AMP (our nickname for the Center – Aspirations Made Possible). We chose a red floored elevator with the possibility of black walls (I call this the scheming room). And we decided to theme each floor’s restrooms with different colored tiles. Teens will walk into the center, see the hip UFO chandelier, and know they are in a special place designed for a new era of leaders. Here is a sample of what we were thinking. The original image looks much more blue. What do you think? 
 On Thursday October 29th, the YMCA held its annual Celebration and Dinner at the renovated Shattuck Plaza Hotel – right next door to our offices. Many different people attended the dinner, including donors, Board members, members of the YMCA and other people in the community who are excited by the Y’s work. The purpose of the event is to recognize volunteers of the year for each branch and other people who have made a significant impact in the community. The Teen Center Task Force was lucky enough to be invited, but we also got to meet and greet people as they came in, directed them to the reception, and helped out throughout the night. We got a chance to talk with many of the guests about who we are and what we do on the Task Force, and to make them more aware about our project. The dinner was delicious, and the dessert was even better! But to top it off, there were many inspirational speakers such as Jonny Moseley, Dick Bolles and Debra Pryor. Altogether the night was a success and a lot of fun at that!
 Alright, check it out. On the 15th, I gave my final words to the Design Review Committee. We had been going back to DRC because there was a problem with our color choice - green. The members of the committee seemed to be dabbling with the shade of the green and why they didn’t like it, so this was my Hail Mary to persuade the dabblers. I was compelled to deliver this speech at the previous DRC meeting, because it was still a hot topic. However, I had to hold my tongue, as it probably wasn’t the appropriate time. This round was my chance. Our green is a color I feel very strongly about and I wanted to let everyone know that it was just more than a color to us. As I was talking, I hoped that I would be able to get through to the members on the committee, so I tried my best to put all the emotions I had going through me out towards them. Well now that you know what it’s all about, why don’t you see it for yourself? Enjoy!
 I love the YMCA! When I was little, my favorite part of summer was going to Y-Camp. Last year, I decided that I needed a job. So I automatically looked to the YMCA, the source of my childhood fun, as the place to work. I was going to apply for one of the desk jobs, until I heard about the Teen Center Task Force. While I do like greeting people and answering questions, the Teen Center Task Force sounded more like something I’d be interested in being part of. I like doing community service projects that directly impact people, and the Teen Center is a prime example of something that will do just that. Unfortunately, I was told that the Task Force was not able to hire another employee at that time. I was sad, but in the long run it gave me more time for school and other extracurriculars so it was probably a blessing in disguise. But almost six months later, Tracy called me into her office. I was confused at first, thinking that maybe I had left an old math book or something in her office, but was thrilled when she offered me the position as a Teen Center Task Force Member! So far, I have attended meetings, met with the Design Review Committee, and toured the future Teen Center. I’ve learned so much already from the importance of an aesthetically consistent building, to the dangers of asbestos. All of the people at the office are so nice, welcoming, and helpful! I’ve also had the chance to meet some of the amazing Brower Youth Award winners, whose environmental activism is truly inspiring! So far, I've had a lot of fun; I can't wait to see what comes next!
 I looked down at the striped tie flowing over my stylish blue cotton shirt. My gaze followed the tie all the way down to my wrists folded over my lap. I noticed that the white buttons of my wrist cuffs had come undone. While struggling to re-attach the two ends I found a grin beginning to crawl over my mouth. I smiled knowing that a group of high school students and their committed supervisor had just successfully given a presentation on engaging youth in community decision-making processes at UC Berkeley’s Education Summit. Tracy, Chris, Viviana and I had prepared for weeks and I know we were all glad to finally be finished. Our audience was a group of highly educated teachers, non-profit organizers and college students. We were lucky to have such an attentive and genuinely interested crowd. Several people even approached us at the end to further discuss the ideas we presented. My main focus had been teen’s challenges and advantages compared to adults. Chris discussed taking teens seriously and ways to help us to effectively use our abilities. Viviana gave an in-depth view on the Teen Center Project so far and also talked about being a teen involved in such a large scale project. Tracy detailed the role of adults who work with or supervise teen employees, and she made clear the idea that responsibility needs to be placed in the hands of teens. I am honestly proud that I work on a team that puts such a strong value on every voice. I am sure that my experiences on the Teen Center Task Force would not have been as enjoyable had it not be for this quality, and I know that without responsibility in my hands and respect from the team’s adults my work would not have been of use and this project would have been shaped in an entirely different manner. Click to see our presentation from the summit.
 Wow! After a couple months of waiting to be on the Teen Task Force, I’m finally on it. Even on the day our soccer team lost the game, I was filled with excitement because I found out I got the job. I was so nervous on my way to meet with my future boss Tracy because I really wanted to make a good impression. Here’s a little bit about myself. I attend California College Preparatory Academy, an Aspire Public School in association with UC Berkeley and tutor students at Berkeley Maynard Academy, and I’ve already taken five college courses, which I think really help me in preparing to become a successful student in college. I dream of attending USC or UCLA and want to either become a surgeon or lawyer who helps people with low incomes because I think it’s important to help people who need it but may not be able to afford it. At work and in life, I just really want to be there to help others overcome struggles they face. I believe that working on the YMCA Teen Center Task Force will build my communication skills and allow me to contribute to creating opportunities for other students to achieve their goals. After meeting with Tracy, I left knowing I was going to work on something I really wanted to be part of. I’m very excited about being on the team.
 A few Thursdays ago, we went to the Design Review Committee, yet again. Being the fourth time we’d been in front of the DRC, the Task Force was getting pretty used to the routine of these meetings. We all crossed our fingers and wished for the best before we went, hoping that we wouldn’t have to come back again. This time, we presented options for the green color on the front of the building (once again), and a few other exterior additions we’d made since the last meeting. Luckily, most of the decisions went over well with the board. Sadly, we have to go back to the DRC this Thursday to present our brand new shade of green for the building, plus a few adjustments we made from the last design review. This Thursday, one of our team members, Chris, is going to make a speech about why we chose the color green for the building, and why we would like to keep it green, seeing as the biggest dilemma so far, is the color choice. We are all hoping for the best at this next Design Review. Wish us luck!
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