Minutes

• Welcome & Introductions
• Summarize Peaceable Goals
• Goal setting for 2000 – brainstorming session
• Action Planning
• Report from action groups
• Summary, Next Steps, Evaluations

Westford 2000 – A Peaceable Community

 Mission: To support a community-wide conversation on ways Westford residents can demonstrate more respect for people and the environment.

Goal setting session question:

 Looking out 12-18 months, what would I want to have accomplished, seen built on or strengthened, or be different…in Westford, as a result of our Peaceable Community efforts?

Tuesday: (number of votes received by participants)

Respect Young – Old (14)

*Sports Respect (9)

*Respect for Teens (8)

*Parenting/Family (7)

Peaceable Schools (6)

School/Community (5)

Inter-group collaboration (5)

Recreation (2)

Peaceable Community Pride (2)

Driving Respect (1)

Community Service (1)

Thursday: (number of votes received by participants) Top of Page

*Teens & Community Respect (9) **

*Youth/Elderly/Diversity Respect (8) **

*Inter-group/community respect (6)

Parenting/Family (3)

Respect in schools (2)

Neighborhood Unity/Beautification

Sports Respect

Road Respect

* worked on in action groups

** these two topics were combined by participants and worked on as one.

Action Team Reports:

 Tuesday:

*Sports Respect (9)

 Group participants: Kevin Regan, Rich Rochon, Don Parsons, Jeff Chelgren, Sandra Habe, Sandy Collins, Steve Ledoux, Bob Welch

• Forum for parents and participants to explain sportsmanship guidelines and accountability – guest speaker, include video
• Develop a Code of Conduct (signed) – uniform code
  • Coaches
  • Participants
  • Parents/guardians
  • Officials/referees
• Coordinate school team activities and recreation
• Examine M.I.A.A. Code of Conduct
• Training for coaches – purpose of participation – skill development, sportsmanship, fitness, fun, confidence, effort, respect, injury treatment

Solutions:

• Research Florida Code of Conduct
• Develop training program –parents, coaches, officials, participants
• Develop award guidelines & distribute awards (players & coaches)

*Respect for Teens (8)

Top of Page

Group participants: Mike Perron, Bill McGuirk, Lucy Smith, Janis Henderson, Bob Campbell, Maureen Buckley, Tim Martin

• Must start with the ADULTS – sensitivity training, don’t "profile"
• Increased publicity Teen/Adult forums and activities

*Parenting/Family (7)

 Group participants: Patti Mason, Grace Wai, Carol Bounsanto, Dick Lamburn, Becky Doherty

• workshops for different levels of family, infants -> teens (parenting) – [PTO, Roudy, Westford Partnership]
• establishing family values
• family support groups, ex: grieving support group for children {Book groups (parenting), Library, WASA, try to form through school guidance programs]
• family activities for parent or caregiver & child [Roudy, schools]
• promote ‘letting kids be kids’ by not over-scheduling them – unstructured activities [workshop]
• promote family diversity – respect for all different kinds of families [workshops, articles]
• ways to provide support for families with at-risk students [collaboration among fire, police, schools, health dept, etc…]
• adult awareness of people with disabilities [?Health dept, schools, Roudy]

Thursday:

*Teens & Community Respect (9) **/ *Youth/Elderly/Diversity Respect (8) **

 Group participants: Bev Johanson, Diane Healy, Lisa Earl, India Nolen, Pam Adams, Rose Vetere, Liz Martin

• "Safe Homes" list (Sue Withers, Liz Martin, and Rose Vetere will look into this more)
• Neighborhood phone lists/tea
• Summer ‘hang-out’ for teens
• Lunch time programs for seniors to meet with high schoolers re: careers – contact Council on Aging (Diane will contact)

*Inter-group/community respect (6)

 Group participants: Debra Grad, Bob Morawiak, Veronica Whitehouse

• Train members of different groups to tape events – more diverse representation on community TV. (Veronica Whitehouse)
• Quarterly townwide theme – recognized and encouraged at beginning of group meetings. Create a common thread : local paper, school bulletins, etc.
• Groups promote each other as a resource. List groups and focus on website.

Full data from brainstorming sessions

 Tuesday

Respect Young – Old (14)

• increased respect for all residents young and old
• inter-generational program to have respect for each other
• opportunities for young and old to work together on share community projects
• adult to adult communication re: problems/concerns, needs improvement
• bring older and younger people together more
• provide the youth of our community with opportunities for positive growth
• promote diversity as a positive social element
• community shares respect for all members
• inter-generational activities and communication

Sports Respect (9)

• improved spectator sportsmanship at athletic events
• parents agree to code of conduct at sporting events
• provide guidelines for coaches in youth sports (recreation) regarding sportsmanship

Respect for Teens (8)

• need to improve image of older teens to parents of kindergarten students
• pull quiet teens out of their corners and get them involved
• adults treat not only each other with respect but also listen and respect children
• help teens be able to approach and communicate with adults
• heightened recognition for the ‘good news’ coming out of Westford’s teen population
• teach more respect for teens
• connect diverse teen age groups – learn to mentor
• broaden community opportunity to see what our teens are learning in school – especially in art, music, poetry
• increased respect of diverse teen cultures, one for another
• all children have a variety of options ‘to be listened to’ during a time of need.

Parenting/Family (7) Top of Page

• providing stronger communication systems in order to identify and counsel domestic/social problems
• establish a mentor program for our at risk students
• create a wrap-around system of support for our most needy/at risk students who would not necessarily have support through special education department
• provide a vehicle for parents (hot line, seminars, etc.) to develop their skills and support parenting responsibility.
• Parenting from infants -> teens

Peaceable Schools (6)

• train teaching staff on how to mediate with students having difficulty with social interaction
• train students how to mediate with peers (grades 3-12)
• Robinson K-2:complete development of social curriculum "Peace-it-Together". Phase in training and implement.
• Promoting positive peer interplay between school children
• All students in grades K-8 participate in a ‘social competency’ program
• Continue to provide a safe school environment
• Able to teach students from all schools to get along
• Instruct students for skill development with conflict resolution
• Reduce bullying at the K-2 level – no tolerance with direct/explicit teaching. Communicate with families on our efforts.
• Continue to promote codes of behavior and respect in our schools

School/Community (5)

• stress that police are here as part of the community not just an ‘enforcer’ of the laws.
• Efforts of schools are expanded to ‘community’
• Develop skills that promote respect and decision making within the school community
• Workshop with town and school officials to discuss goals (pre-budget)
• School children working with public officials

Inter-group collaboration (5)

• more awareness of groups in town outside school environment
• increased sense of community – beyond individual groups
• expand programs that are introduced in the schools to include the community as a whole
• help residents become aware of resources, services available to them
• better communication between groups/organizations in Westford
• resources provided by town departments coordinated to prevent duplication

Recreation (2)

• meet the recreation needs of a growing community for all who reside or have business here.
• Better planning for youth activities/programs

Peaceable Community Pride (2)

• the peaceable community logo becomes part of publications throughout town
• workshops for building on our mission
• peaceable community signs at recreation fields serve as a reminder that adults and children can compete and maintain peaceful attitudes toward each other
• peaceable community pledge for parents and kids
• recognize members of community that best exemplify the goals of Peaceable Community 2000
• promote a positive image of Westford on the net.

Driving Respect (1)

• making Westford a safer place to live by education of driving habits
• provide safe avenue for residents to move freely throughout our community – roadways, sidewalks, bicycle paths, etc.

Community Service (1)

• increased volunteerism
• more community service project that families and individuals can work together on.
• Have opportunities for children to do ‘good works’ such as: Readathon for Operation Smile, Adopted child from a country, coats for kids, etc.

Thursday:
Top of Page

Teens & Community Respect (9)

- recognition of youth achievements in newspaper, school bulletins, etc.

• make involvement the cool thing to do
• institute a student assistance program at Middle and High School levels
• activities for non-sports minded kids to keep them off the streets, yet having fun
• continued interaction by police with youth of community – becoming familiar in a positive way
• teen loitering in front of public places dealt with
• teen’s drug/alcohol use dramatically drops
• understanding the relationship between rights and responsibilities in a school community
• respect for other people’s property
• Middle/early high school teens have summer programs in town
• Scholarships for youth Peace efforts

Youth/Elderly/Diversity Respect (8)

• Cable TV programs on diversity acceptance
• More inter-generational events and mentoring
• Mutual respect by and between all age groups for each other
• Youth and elderly meet regularly for mentoring "chats"
• Respect for elders and authority figures
• A better understanding that we are all in this together! Working as a team, much is possible!
• Create opportunity for big kids to help, tutor, advise, play with, little kids
• Smile and say hello or respond in kind to same
• Grown up people treat children with politeness and respect in social situations
• "acceptance of differences" is our culture
• all age groups to be able to communicate, respect and appreciate each other for their wisdom and individuality

Inter-group/community respect (6)

• more events shown on cable to showcase the good which is being done in this community
• every town function/meeting starts with a peaceable issue
• we establish a Westford Nobel Peace Prize
• increased awareness of the local service groups in town and what they do
• respect between town departments regarding high demand on limited funds – less competition, more mutual understanding
• more residents attending town meeting and voting in elections, "take ownership", be heard
• more group look to the library to support initiatives by creating booklists and in-house displays

Parenting/Family (3)

• more parental involvement regarding teens and their activities in neighborhoods, especially at late hours of night.
• Develop a family support network with crisis capability

Respect in schools (2)

• Westford is recognized leader in school violence prevention
• Students possessing (developing) the strength of character to stand up to bullies
• Schools and parents working together to help model ‘appropriate’ behavior on school buses – we need to empower teens to be role models for younger grades instead of "bad examples"
• Courtesy and respect taught at every age level in the schools as part of the curriculum
• Schools include regular anti-bullying programs

Neighborhood Unity/Beautification

• involve more residents in community projects
• creating beautification projects for all ages in Forge, other neighborhoods, and schools

Sports Respect

• uniform code of conduct for parents and kids on playing fields

Road Respect

• drivers slow down and drive the speed limit Top of Page

Maureen Buckley Health Coordinator – Westford Public Schools

Lucy Smith Blanchard PTO

Michael Perron Westford Police

Janis Henderson Westford Teen Arts Council

Sandra Habe Westford Recreation

Dick Lamburn Westford Initiative for Traffic Safety (WITS)

Steve Ledoux Westford Town Manager

Becky Doherty Westford Women’s Club

Jeff Chelgrin Westford Town Manager’s Office

Sandy Collins Westford Health Department

Richard Rochon Westford Fire Department

Kevin Regan Day School

Robert Welch Westford Police/Recreation Commission

Bill McGuirk Westford Academy

Bob Campbell Nashoba Tech School

Donald Parsons Westford Fire Department

Carol Bounsanto Bahai Faith

Patti Mason Roudenbush Community Center

Tim Martin WestNet

Thursday, March 9, 7:30 PM

Pam Adams Teen Peace Initiative

Beverly Johansen Forge Village Coalition

Elizabeth Martin Community member

Bob Morawiak Boys Scouts

India Nolen J.V. Fletcher Library

Joe Greene Westford Human Resources

Diane Healy Graniteville Pride

Debra Grad League of Women Voters

Rose Vetere Abbot Elementary School

Lisa Earl Forge Village Coalition

Rick McNeil Westford Kiwanis

Also attending Thursday evening:

William "Scott" Zemetres Westford Eagle william.zemetres@cnc.com