When I stepped inside the Neutral Zone on Saturday, September 12, I could detect the excitement coming from everyone around me.  We boarded the bus for the Neutral Zone’s fourth annual Leadership Retreat.  The atmosphere on the bus was like Christmas Eve…everyone was excited to see what Camp Linden had in store for him or her.

Upon our arrival, the Neutral Zone staff started whipping out different kinds of icebreakers to get us loose.  The NZ actually makes icebreakers fun, by doing activities that are unique and creative.  In one of the most memorable ones, all of the teens were parts of this Neutral Zone “machine,” and everybody had to think of a movement and make a sound with it, AND they had to be connected to someone else.  I like to put myself out there to get some laughs, even if I look like a fool, so I did the cabbage patch dance and made “wooooooo saaaaaaaa” sounds really fast.

During the Leadership Retreat, we participated in two workshops.  During the first workshop, led by U of M diversity trainer Gabe Javier, we examined the qualities that we believed a leader should have, and also talked about our power to change things in our world.  The second workshop addressed ways to make NZ programs more diverse.  At the end, people agreed that we should reach out and talk to a broader crowd, and that it is our duty to try to make the Neutral Zone a comfortable environment for everybody.  

One of the most memorable things during the retreat was the campfire, where everybody gathered around and started listening and talking about scary stories.  Believe it or not, campfire stories are still enjoyable, even when you’re in high school.

I would have to say that the Neutral Zone Retreat was a 5-star, 100% success in my book.  At the end of the event, I was talking to kids that went to my school, who I had never talked to before.  I had a wonderful discussion with kids from the Visual Arts Council that I had never had a chance to sit down and have a conversation with. This retreat enabled us to come together with a common bond.  When we left Camp Linden on Sunday to return to the Neutral Zone, people had plenty of ideas of how they could collaborate with other programs.  The Neutral Zone Leadership Retreat is something that every teen needs to experience, plain and simple.

For more Leadership Retreat photos, click here.

New Programs for '09-'10 School Year
The new school year is off to a fast start, and the NZ has launched two new programs.  The Green Group becomes an official program this year, after NZ all-star Sterling Field started the pilot initiative in 2008 to help the Neutral Zone become more envrionmentally friendly. 

Sterling is off to college now, but the eight teens he recruited are carrying on, with plans to do some "Guerrilla Gardening" to beautify spaces in Ann Arbor, like the gardens they have already created at the NZ and Community High School.  They're also planning an event to raise awareness about ways to save energy, and will continue to sell their custom silkscreened re-usable tote bags.  Green Grouop teens say they could really use donations of gardening supplies, plants, and seeds.  They recently learned that they received a gift of start-up funds from Toyota Technical Center.

The Neutral Zone's DJ program has changed its name to Performing Technology (PT), and it will now cover a broader range of performing arts, including live video and photo manipulation, composing electronic music and performing it live, and building custom controllers and instruments.  No worries for the turntableists out there; the program still addresses classic subjects like mixing, beat matching and scratching. 

Performing Technology teens will continue to meet weekly on Wednesday nights, but the program will also offer Sunday intensive workshop in the areas of DJ arts, audio arts, visual arts and special workshops for young women only.  For more info on Sunday Intensive workshops, click here.

Staff Spotlight: Rebecca Bowman
Holdin' Down the Fort Since '07

Nickname: Many...as a child, Pooh, to the NZ teens, Mama.

Goal at the NZ this year:  To make my presence known at the high schools in Ann Arbor.    

 

 

  Summer's over, school's in session.
Teens hit the books and enjoy a delicious dinner provided by Iota Phi Theta during drop-in hours.

 

 

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Neutral Zone is a diverse, youth-driven teen center dedicated to promoting personal growth through artisitic expression, community leadership, and the exchange of ideas. 

♦  NZ Leadership Retreat:  Get the low down from NZ teen Austin Hughes...

♦ New Programs:  Green Group and Performing Technology

♦ Staff Spotlight: Everything you need to know about Program Coordinator Rebecca Bowman.

♦ Event Photos: Check out photo albums from recent NZ events!

♦ October Calendar: Your guide to Neutral Zone happenings.

"Hello, Molly!" a Great Success

Click here for more photos...

  Neutral Zone's Northstar program hosted University of Michigan Wallenberg Award winner Lydia Cacho on Wednesday, October 7:

Upcoming Events @  NZ:

This Friday, October 16:
A Benefit for the Music Programs Featuring the Chief Blues Officers and Hi-Def with Steve Fentriss, 7pm


Wednesday, October 22:
Celebrating After School programs in Washtenaw County, 5pm

Neutral Zone Programs are back in session. 

More info available online at http://www.neutral-zone.org/programs or at the Neutral Zone.  Scholarships are available.