Sometimes, it takes a village.
Born out of the weeks-long discussion on how to deal with a reckless group of teenagers causing havoc within Lansdale Borough, a solution has come to pass that may offer the kids a more practical and rewarding use of their time.
“After the articles came out about the so-called ‘wheelie kids,’ I received a message from Ryan Weiss representing The Underground, saying that he wanted to come up with a community solution that would appeal to the youth of the area and give them new and different skills that they might be interested in,” said Mayor Garry Herbert. “I think that providing the youth of our area something new and different to be interested in—that doesn’t involve riding a bicycle directly at a car—is a very good thing. Over the last few days, we’ve been discussing what that might look like.”
Beginning on Aug. 12, The Underground will host a weekly program called “The Wheel House” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., aimed at getting kids off the streets and into a venue where they can learn a variety of skills including audio engineering, event planning, venue management and more.
“I don’t want this to be seen as a one-off opportunity, where they acquire skills and leave,” said Weiss, who manages The Underground. “I want them to embrace their new skills, have a vested interest in the success of their town. We already know that they’re up for challenges, because they’re doing wheelies in traffic. We want to challenge them in a different way.”
Weiss said that the program is geared towards skills that kids already desire, and will provide hands-on training for platforms such as audio / video production, streaming on services like Twitch and YouTube, and more.
“We know that teens are watching things on sites like Twitch and YouTube, so let’s teach them those skills and switch them from viewers to content creators,” said Weiss.
At launch, the program will be able to host a maximum of 12-to-13 teens, but Weiss said that he would like to expand and scale up as needed, and he also hopes that other local businesses follow suit and offer similar programs for those who may not be interested in tech skills.
“I would like this to expand, be it more days or more locations,” said Weiss. “I don’t want this to be a finite stop at The Underground. We’d like to provide a variety of opportunities, so we’re hoping to partner with other businesses in the area.”
On the logistical side, mentors will have to possess clearances from the state which allow for working with children. Weiss already has those clearances, as he serves as a merit badge counselor with the Boy Scouts, and though The Underground does serve alcohol, it will be locked away and the taps will be cut off during the training periods.
“You’re not going to convince every kid to stop being reckless,” said Herbert. “What we are looking to do is put an option forward that says ‘this is something you could do.’”
Herbert said the program has received the blessing of Lansdale Borough Police Chief Michael Trail, and soon police officers will be able to pass along informational materials to teens during their interactions.
“We’re going to arm the police with information cards, so when they see kids—even if they’re not doing anything wrong—they can walk up, have a great conversation, and let them know about this great opportunity,” said Herbert. “This also allows them to have a positive interaction, so it’s not always adversarial between police and kids.”
“It’s important for us to note that this isn’t just for the ‘wheelie kids;’ it’s for anyone who is interested in learning these things,” Weiss added. “We want more kids involved in this town, in what we’re doing.”
Both Herbert and Weiss said they don’t expect the program to take off overnight, but added that they can see it becoming successful over time—especially with the help of other like-minded businesses who want to have a positive impact on their community.
“If it starts with just one kid, that’s a success from my perspective,” said Weiss.
See also:
As Debate Rages On ‘Wheelie Kid’ Solutions, Police Issue Official Statement
Complaints Continue About Lansdale ‘Wheelie Kids’
Lansdale ‘Wheelie Kids’ Draw Ire Of Police, Businesses
Locals Lament Impending Loss of Historic Hatfield School
