Freestyle: Youth Development Club and Arts Production Center

Rules

Respect yourself

smoking, drinking, and drug use will not be allowed

youth should wear clothing that does not show too much skin or undergarments

youth should not wear t-shirts with inappropriate messages such as sex, drug or alcohol-related words or images

youth should avoid suggestive dance moves

Respect others

violence or weapons will not be tolerated

youth should keep their language clean

youth should avoid suggestive dance moves

Respect the place

youth will not be allowed to enter if adults suspect they have been drinking

if youth leave the club and try to come back, they will be charged a second cover charge

loitering outside club is not allowed – if you have to wait for a ride, stay inside until it arrives

gang signaling will not be allowed (bandanas in pockets, uneven pant legs, cocked hats, etc.)

Adult Advisory Board

Aaron Johnson – Probation Officer (of juvenile repeat offenders), Tippecanoe County

Christopher Shaver - Purdue Employee's Federal Credit Union, Branch Manager (Treasurer)

Heather Wenig - Community and Family Resource Center, Youth Services Coordinator

Jolene Beck -marketing student at Indiana State

Juanita Crider - Program Adviser of Purdue's Black Cultural Center

Captain Kurt Wolf – Lafayette Police Department, Captain of Patrol Division

Mark Kirgiss – Young Life Area Director

Mary Pachmayr – retired head nurse, mentor for youth

Nancy Mockros – Presbyterian pastor

Robin Virtue - YMCA Youth Director

FAQs

Why are you now once a month? To gather a following at our new space, we are now trying to bring in live bands which is harder to find than a DJ. By summer, we hope to return to our weekly schedule, every Friday, depending on musician availability. Once we get grants, we hope to be open every day for hanging out with games and creative opportunities, with live music every weekend, perhaps both Fridays and Saturdays.
Why have you moved? We started in a warehouse/club location that was handy for many teens and free for us, but some parents didn't like it and the building was recently sold for the second time. We moved to the YWCA, who adopted us as a youth program. This is a 'permanent' home coupled with a formal organizational linking. Our board and volunteers are part of "Club Freestyle Co" but the program belongs to the YWCA. As we grow into the daily operation and arts development, we may want to think about our own building as well as staff. However, our new umbrella relationship would remain, no matter where we are.
Is this a non-profit organization? Yes, we are registered with the state of Indiana as Club Freestyle Co., both a religious and public service entity. Club Freestyle can accept donations of equipment and money but is a volunteer-served organization with no paid staff, at this point. The YWCA is our 501(c)(3) through which CF applies for grants.
Why do you charge $5 admission? The YWCA has to pay the utilities and insurance on our space. Club Freestyle may obtain grants that allow us to eliminate this charge, in the future. The sale of food pays mostly for the food itself but also defrays costs.
Does Club Freestyle allow gambling? Absolutely not. The state of Indiana prohibits gaming, and we strictly enforce this. Poker is just a game, using chips as points.

Plans for the Future

As grants come in, we envision video production classes to instruct youth in creating short films and TV shows using video and audio equipment. We are seeking partnerships and access to a local television station (such as WLFI, TV-18). Music production classes will teach youth to harness their creative instincts and utilize modern technology to appeal to large audiences.

As we obtain equipment, teens will learn computer skills, knowledge of the music industry and technical production. DJ training classes will include turn tabling, a growing hobby among young people. The youth will showcase their talents at the club. At the ‘Open Mic’ and poetry workshop, teens can share the issues that affect their lives with peers through artistic expression. The intimacy of this program allows teens to shine with their talent and learn from their peers who work together to make words, music, motion, design and images come alive.

Center attendees will also have access to a technology lab where they will be able to safely surf the net, and utilize the computer in a supervised, supportive environment. Teens gain experience and perhaps become experts in an art or technical trade, with the opportunity to make their voices heard in their community.

From the artistic standpoint, we hope this will be a teen-driven operation, but we also seek artistic mentors from the local musical venues and radio stations, as well as video producers and studios, around town. We have several musicians lined up to help with the music. About 25 artists will be involved in the project for instruction.

We plan to have special nights for each local high school when $1 per entry will be donated to that high school – but people from all high schools will be admitted at any event

Teens sell food, collect cover charges and work in various positions of operation. Volunteer teens will get a free admission card for another night and a free soft drink and one free snack while they work

Bringing a group of more than 10 will be allow a $2 admission discount for each from that particular group in attendance

Sometimes, we will host open mic poetry nights

Every high school student welcome

Club Freestyle is committed to diversity of race, backgrounds and economic status. This includes faith tradition. While our leaders are committed to Christian faith and values, we do not expect youth who frequent the club to subscribe to our faith.

We neither push nor hide our faith. We believe that Jesus is the answer to life's problems and our sin. God is the perfect parent who always loves us. Prayer and seeking God are central to our identity as volunteers but not to our operation nor to the parent organization, YWCA.

The YWCA USA is a women's membership movement nourished by its roots in the Christian faith and sustained by the richness of many beliefs and values. Strengthened by diversity, the YWCA draws together members who strive to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. The YWCA will thrust its collective power toward the elimination of racism, wherever it exists, and by any means necessary.

Art for Teens

We encourage teens to "own" CF by deciding on decorations and activities, to be part of shaping Freestyle.

Club Freestyle is open to any high school age youth. We plan to offer teens a place to explore emotions, personal identity and spirituality through the arts such as music, video and poetry, connecting them to mentors and peers who understand their dilemma. Expressing oneself in art is not only a means of healing but a way to find oneself and speak to the world about some profound truth in a new way. Art can lead teens on a process toward spiritual and emotional discovery.