'An open door': How Poughkeepsie's Teen Resource Activity Center is impacting city youth
Since 1999, Family Services has operated a program called TRAC, Teen Resource Activity Center, to meet the incredible needs of teens in the City of Poughkeepsie.
Brian Muse is the program coordinator for the TRAC program, working with kids ages 11 to 18. TRAC offers mentorship and a sense of belonging, as well as a supportive and safe space where youths can develop their athletic, academic, creative, workforce and social skills.
Last academic year, the program served 500 students and had 50-75 youth attending each evening during the summer session.
During the school day, TRAC dispatches a team of youth outreach workers to work in the City of Poughkeepsie middle and high schools, where they mentor youth.
Plethora of opportunities afforded to students
The drop-in center is centrally located in the Family Partnership Center on Tuesdays through Fridays, from 4-8:30 p.m. Students walk from Poughkeepsie Middle School and Poughkeepsie High School to the Family Partnership after school, or come following their after-school activities or sports.
"It's an open-door policy," Muse said. "We could be doing podcasting, music production, entrepreneurship classes, branding, marketing, arts and crafts and all different sports levels from sixth grade to 12th grade."
They also provide other activities that foster academic success, self-sufficiency, leadership and resiliency such as tutoring services with Our Lady of Lourdes High School, coding classes, dance, gardening, nutrition and cooking instruction, CPR and basic life support training, field trips and more.
Any activity the youths think up, Muse and the other TRAC staff try to make it happen. Students are also provided dinner every night.
The TRAC initiative is one of the programs assisted by the Holiday Helping Hand campaign, a collaboration between the Poughkeepsie Journal and the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region.
This year $1,400 was donated by Holiday Helping Hand to aid in the purchasing of food and dessert, along with other party-related items for TRAC's yearly holiday celebration for the kids. This was combined with games and prizes donated by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee at the Family Partnership Center.
However, since the program has grown so much within the last year, Muse said they also wanted to expand the celebrations from just "American Christmas," to better serve the students.
A majority of the money spent went to Adams Fairacre Farms and Pastry Garden to provide the youths with culturally diverse food options and eight cakes for the celebration held on Friday, Dec. 15.
"It was a great day," Muse said. "We're still counting the numbers, but close to 150 students came."
TRAC program includes violence prevention, life skills workshops
On a regular Friday evening, they will hold violence prevention and life skills workshops with the youths. Muse said they'll talk about issues going on in the City of Poughkeepsie such as gang violence.
"The city is so small, one situation could actually affect some of our students," he said.
When things like this do arise, TRAC program workers come together as a team to make sure students are safe, ensure the students know they have support, and if necessary, reach out to the proper services to provide the youths with any extra support TRAC might not be able to provide.
They also use positive reinforcement when students do well, and emphasize all the productive things the youths are doing. For example, Muse said students enthusiastically show off whenever they or their friends get good grades to the TRAC program workers. When the TRAC staff give positive feedback when the youths do well, it keeps them on the right path, Muse said.
It also opens the door to building healthy connections with the students, so they feel comfortable reaching out and talking to the staff in a time of need.
Students learn podcasting in partnership with iHeart Radio
The podcasting program features a collaboration between the TRAC program, Michael Esposito and iHeart Radio on Wednesdays for an hour in the evening for student voices to be heard. The youths will work on their podcast and iHeart Radio will put it on their station, set to launch in January on the iHeart platform.
"It's not a podcast built with what we want to hear, it's a podcast built off their thoughts," Muse said.
Certain evenings they could have more than 100 students at the TRAC program.
"Our students are the ones that actually promote this program," Muse said.
Malchiah Keenum, 14, goes to Poughkeepsie High School and regularly attends the TRAC program to make music when he doesn't have basketball practice.
"I've been coming here since sixth or seventh grade," he said. "I always tell my friends that don't come here to come."
He said once one of his friends tries out the TRAC program, they usually go again because they end up knowing someone else.
"I guarantee you every single person in here is friends with somebody," Keenum said.
Muse said when school is closed and other programs are closed, the TRAC program still runs.
"The kids know, we can go to the Family Partnership Center," he said.
The TRAC staff goes above and beyond to be present for the students when they need it most.
To learn more about Family Services, founded in 1879, along with the TRAC program, check out their website.
Holiday Helping Hand
Each year, the Poughkeepsie Journal and United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region raise funds for Dutchess County programs that assist local kids and families in having a happy holiday season through the Holiday Helping Hand campaign.
To donate, visit uwdor.org/hhh23 or mail a check to Holiday Helping Hand, United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, 75 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Checks should be made payable to Holiday Helping Hand.
All donations go directly to Dutchess County organizations to serve those in need.
How to donate: From gift cards to holiday dinners, Holiday Helping Hand is assisting Dutchess residents
From Dec. 15-21, the following donations have been made to the 2023-24 Holiday Helping Hand campaign, totaling $2,483.92:
Victoria & Mike Dennin, $25
Anonymous, $1
Anonymous, $25
In Memory of Delores Kelly and in Honor of Kevin Kelly, From Elyse Mansfield, $25
Anonymous, $15
Rosemary & Alan Thomas, $250
Chris, Linda, and Helen Harden, $50
Christine Petrone, $50
Jinny & Robert Goff, $25
In Memory of My Parents Mary & Philip Hoag, From Amy Hoag Lynch, $30
Charles and Shirley Saylor, $125
Anonymous, $150
Theresa & John Brewster, $25
Anonymous, $25
Elizabeth Dederer, $100
Michael & Teresa Caruso, $30
In Memory of Tony Buccelli, From Allison & Dwight, $100
In Honor of Nathan Lawrence-Paine, From Anonymous, $100
In Memory of Our Loved Ones, Family, & Friends, Anonymous, $50
In Memory of Jeff Raymond, From Nancy & Bruce Raymond, $100
Arlene Becker, $25.66
Diane Moody, $51.32
Maureen Logan, $513.29
Rita Banner, $102.65
Renate Friedrichsen, $50
In Loving Memory of Roy & Helen Dunham, From Cheryl & Ed Venuto, $100
Sheila Davis, $20
Anonymous, $250
Dutchess County Home Bureau, $70
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Activity center gives mentorship, life skills to Poughkeepsie teens