The new presidents of The Depot want to restore Dariens teen center to its glory days as a place where teens can come and hang out.
"One of the first things we want to do is change the environment to a more positive one," said Phoebe Cush, who, along with Cammie Kirby, was elected head of the teen center's Student Governing Board Tuesday. "I feel like it kind of has a bad reputation that it's getting old. And we want to bring in fresh events and new ideas."
The two high school girls -- Cush is a sophomore, Kirby a junior -- said students often come for dances and other major events, but that in recent years students have not been as interested in using The Depot as a "hang out zone" after school and on weekend nights.
"We want to promote it more on weekends, where kids can come here as opposed to doing more dangerous activities," Cush said. Ways they plan on accomplishing this are hosting more movie nights and spreading the word with teens that the Depot is a friendly, alcohol- and drug-free environment.
"It's the butterfly effect. If we can spread the word to a couple of people, then more and more people will start coming. It will be like how it used to be."
The newly appointed presidents will be in charge of running the Student Governing Board and coordinating the efforts to plan and run all events and fundraisers for the center. It is a major time commitment, but the two are passionate about the Depot and making it the best resource for teens that they can.
"It's a great place. It represents the teens in town," said Kirby, who swims and plays lacrosse but plans on making the Depot a main priority.
Cush currently serves as the governing boards vice-president and often stops in several times a week to hang out and accomplish whatever work needs to be done to coordinate events. "It's been great being here and getting to know the board and what it does. I'm here all the time. I've developed a real love for the Depot."
Do your kids spend time at the Depot? How can Phoebe and Cammie better promote it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below, on Facebook and on Twitter.
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