Teen interests in CNY

http://blog.syracuse.com/voices/2009/06/dear_syracuse_an_open_letter_f.html
http://blog.syracuse.com/voices/2008/11/teens_need_to_work_together_to.html
http://blog.syracuse.com/voices/2008/11/what_teens_want_for_central_ne.html

"Do you want to know why kids always say they'll leave and never come back to Syracuse after graduating? Do you want to know why kids who stay after graduating begrudge the coming fall semester when they have to report to whatever local college they're going to? It's not because they aren't excited about their new experiences; it's because they're sick of Syracuse.

Visit syracuse.com and read the comments that are written by Syracusans. These comments reflect the negative mood of the Syracusans who are vocal enough to speak--and by speak I mean complain--but who do nothing more than that.

City school or not, kids are not taken seriously here. After all, they're kids, right? But that's where it stops... adult Syracusans have this perception that they'll get nothing out of the local kids, and this is where it all goes downhill."

• articles on syracuse.com discussed the fact that teens need places to hangout
• as a group, we also discussed the fact that downtown does not seem to provide a place for teens
• "The area of Syracuse most in need of change is downtown."
• " Also, people need places to sit downtown when waiting for their buses to arrive."
• "To make downtown more appealing to teenagers, the bus system needs to change."
• "I would love to do simple, small things that make a significant difference in the lives of my fellow Central New Yorkers."

teen interests:

• after-school activities
• places they can go that don't cost money.
  
• hang out at the mall past 4 p.m.
  
• teen-friendly music scene.

what they want:
Music scene - need to be teen friendly
Race relations - some teens still show their ignorance
Views on GLBT teens - same as above
Anti-violence education
Health education
Career training - need more internships, job shadowing, networking opportunities
Things to do - need more. low- or no-cost
Transportation - teen-friendly bus schedules, needs to be safer
More inter-school events that aren't competitive
More city-suburban interaction
Homeless teens - couch surfing
Teens with kids - and rules on pregnancy in schools
More fundraisers
Teen involvement
Education outside of schools
More festivals in more places
Life skills
Tech classes in schools
Accommodations for people with disabilities
More green space
Improved sidewalks
More street lights
Carpooling serive
Cross-generational interaction
City feels unsafe
Crime
Interaction with Syracuse University
Teens and drugs and alcohol- and effective education about the problem
Schools feel unsafe