Running With A Vision

"Running with a Vision, Arch Street teen center is now prototype for others" ( May 5, 2005 )

Kyle Silver, director of Arch Street, answered these questions about the center and his work there.

How long have you been the director at Arch Street?
I have served eight years at Arch Street — two years were as the assistant director followed by six years as the director.

Describe a typical day at work for you, giving examples of some of the things you do.
A typical work day might include speaking to local parent groups about Arch Street and what our programs have to offer. Also, organizing and finalizing details concerning daily/weekly events and programs. Additionally, given the fact that Arch Street is completely supported through private and corporate sponsorship, fundraising also comes into play. I feel so fortunate to have the support of an amazing board of directors who are instrumental to our continued and long-term success. Also, we have an incredibly dedicated chairman who has teen concerns and needs at the top of his agenda.

What would people be surprised to know that you do (on the job)?
Weekly, I meet with a therapist at Child Guidance Center of Greenwich. We discuss specific concerns and issues regarding teens and how we can continue to help and support their needs given certain struggles or obstacles they are currently facing.

What is the mission of Arch Street?
Arch Street is a drug-free and alcohol-free environment, where teens can initiate and organize activities that improve their social and recreational lives and provide leadership and community service experiences.

Has that mission changed at all in the last few years? If so, why?
No. Our mission statement was established hand in hand with Arch Street's establishment in 1989. Since this time I have seen five other centers open in Fairfield County alone that have used Arch Street as a prototype, not to mention the plethora of phone calls, letters and e-mails I receive from across the country. Arch Street's founding families and board members were visionaries in the need our town, county and country had for such establishments.

Arch Street has often been described by local teens as a middle-school hangout. Is that something you're trying to change, or do you think that's the crowd you need to attract?
Arch Street is open to all students and residents of the town of Greenwich in grades 9 through 12 (grades 7 and 8 by invitation). A huge part of our success with the high school population has been attracting them to our events and programs at an early age. There is an incredible sense of community and diversity at Arch Street that I don't think is found anywhere else in town. For the most part, on any given night you will find students from all local schools, public and private, convening under the same roof and all getting along. Our high school attendance continues to rise given the dedication levels of local teen service groups that hold charity fundraisers at Arch Street.

As director of the teen center in an affluent town, are there challenges you face here that you wouldn't see in other communities?
The freedoms that we allow our teens to have on so many levels are equivalent to the ones that I didn't have until I was a freshman in college. Given these opportunities, it is always a struggle to assure ourselves that teens are meeting our expectations. I see too many situations where the parents want to be their children's best friends. The toughest job in the world is being a teenager and the most important job is being a parent. Often times this means tightening the limits with our teens if the expectation levels are not equal to the level of responsibility we are offering them. For example, it's not a good idea to extend weekend curfew times if the grade levels are not at a standing that was agreed upon between the parents and their teens.

For more information, call Arch Street at 629-5744