As Playing For Others heads into it’s fourth season, it is growing and changing faster than anyone could have ever imagined. We have expanded from a theatre group to an arts movement, added new advisors and committees as well as a visual arts competition. One of these exciting new changes is the formation of the Teen Executive Committee, or the A-Team. The A-team is a committee of twelve teens selected by the entirety of PFO, whose main job is to support and encourage all of the members of Playing for Others, both student and adult. The A-team works directly under Executive Director Jen Band, assisting her and more importantly learning about leadership and how to be involved in a totally different aspect of PFO than they are used to.
Teen Involvement in all aspects is vital to the survival and strength of Playing For Others. Carrie Holt, a Teen Executive committee member said: “I think it’s very important to empower teens, and for those teens to turn around and empower other teens. That is why we have the A-team. The leadership skills I am learning are going to help me in so many aspects of my life.” Leadership is the biggest focus of the A-team and the first test of their leadership was the planning and executing of the retreat. Before the retreat could even happen the A-team met with Jen on numerous occasions, planning and preparing for all the amazing events that made the weekend so successful.
One of the challenges the A-team faced off the bat was learning how to lead their peers. It is one thing to be asked to lead a group of kids younger than you, but having to stand up and lead your teens your own age can be terrifying and difficult. There is a careful balance of knowing when to work and when to play, knowing when to have energy and when to be focused as well as knowing when to take and when to give attention. After the retreat the A-team turns its focus to the year ahead and works on a multitude of tasks, including this newsletter, preparing for buddy events, planning special PFO-teen-only events and making sure every member of Playing For Others has a voice and has a successful, amazing year. The A-team most importantly wants to try and live by the four “A’s” and push all other PFO member to do the same. With Attitude, Acceptance, Accountability and Action, this will surely be the best season of Playing for Others yet.
The 2009-2010 Teen Executive Committee
Hayden Rockecharlie (Co-President)
James Kennedy (Co-President)
Joe Ehrman-Dupre
Emily Hudson
Morgan Grubbs
Carrie Holt
Kate Schwab
Nicole Ramsey
Meghan Neal
Rebecca Moore
Julianna Sosa
Jamie Marsicano
Written by Morgan Grubbs, Teen Executive Member
