Youth brought to the library had siblings that were victims of gun-violence, some of which had died. MDPD selected this group to target with enriching opportunities in order mitigate the effects of their trauma. MDPD does not have the resources to provide programming and relies on the wide breadth of services MDPLS offers. Unaware of the programs and opportunities available to them, teens were exposed to a wide array of library offerings.

MDPD’s Youth Outreach Unit (YOU) transported groups of participants weekly to several library branches in late spring and early summer for meetings. MDPLS’s facilitators collaborated with teens on programming to not only meet their needs, but to connect with them and make participants comfortable. Workshops and services experienced by participants included: tutoring, art, arts and crafts, STEAM programming, music and dance, audio and video production, mentoring.

Individual meetings hosted a core group of between 12 and 20 participants with new participants joining over the course of the summer as other members left. Surveyed teens stated they thoroughly enjoyed programming. Favorite activities included crafts, the around-the-world cultural event and makerspace time. MDPD has expressed the desire to continue the partnership and programming and double the number of participants for the new series.