Students and adults find new pathway to communication

Sequoia Gregorich, Columnist

 

In 2003, the island was shocked by the murder of a then-17-year-old girl.

 

She and her younger sister attended schools within the Vashon Island School District.  Her father, who worked at McMurray Middle School, later committed suicide.

 

A group of islanders, such as Stephen Silah decided that in order to prevent incidents such as this from happening again, they needed to form a group. This group’s goal was to create effective communication between adults and teens.  

 

Between 2004 and 2011, the Vashon community held 19 meetings to establish more effective communication pathways between the younger and older generations.

 

Recently, Spanish teacher Harris Levinson was introduced to the group, and decided to invite a few hand-picked, clear, and opinionated members, not only to facilitate the conversation but to determine the content they will address.

 

Sex, drugs, gender, and right livelihood were a few of the topics discussed in past meetings. The group tries to address these topics, which are usually avoided or dismissed by reason of immaturity, on equal ground with open minds.

 

“The reason I am interested in a youth/adult dialogue… is because over the years I have… noticed that… a main source of conflict or misunderstanding has been a result of a lack of communication,” said senior Xavier Ajeto. “And I think one of the largest factors in a lack of communication is the age gap.”

 

This group especially aims to address what they see as a large gap in tolerance between many teens and adults. The group is open to anyone interested, and it makes it possible for many different views and opinions to be shared in a safe setting and community.

 

“People walk away feeling like they’ve been heard and that they have heard someone else,” said Levinson. He explained that these meetings strive to end the typical pattern of adults doing the work, while students voices remain unimportant.

 

The group is most effective when individuals remain for years.  As students reach a more mature age, they are able to offer their insight into issues which affect them personally. And within these meetings, they are able to be heard in a way that does not often happen to teens.

 

The group believes that setting is important.  Instead of a stiff, forced dialogue between two seemingly very different groups, the youth and adults meet over an enjoyable dinner.

 

The next meeting is on February 15 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church. Vashon youth and adults will be discussing the topic: “What is normal?”

 

The meeting is the night before a Late Arrival Day, and the group hopes there will be many new faces there, speaking and listening.