My Place is a place for everyone
If you go
What: Open house for My Place, a new teen center.
When: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: 15 Swift St., Edgerton.
More info: Call Phill Klamm at (262) 492-0303.
EDGERTON — The new Edgerton teen center belongs to Ashton Hughes.
And it belongs to Emmy Sornson.
And it belongs to every teen who wants a place to call his or her own.
"Everyone who put in hours for this place has ownership of it," said Hughes, 18, vice president of the center's youth board. "That's why we call it My Place."
My Place, 15 Swift St., will celebrate its opening with an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Phill Klamm, alternative teacher at Edgerton High School, got the center going, but teens made most of the decisions about its layout and operation, he said.
He wanted to give teens a place to go after school and experience planning and running an organization, he said.
"Kids always say there's nothing to do," he said. "With the youth board, kids will decide what they want to do."
There will be plenty to do if all goes as planned at My Place. The center will include a video game room, dance studio, skate lounge, coffee shop and computer area, though not everything was ready this week.
Edgerton already has one teen center, Non-Toxic, but it's mostly open at night. My Place will be open 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Klamm said.
It will focus on events such as video game tournaments, dance classes and guest speeches, he said. He hopes to eventually publish a youth calendar.
The center won't be strictly for teens. Klamm plans to hold "Mondays for Moms" and other events for adults, he said.
Still, teens make most of the decisions here. The 20-member youth board will run the center, handling everything from maintenance to hosting to concessions.
Three student volunteers and one adult will be present whenever the center is open, Klamm said. Students can work off detentions, make up missed credits or earn volunteer hours by working at the center.
Sornson, 18, youth board president, said she's excited about the center's potential.
"This place is really going to help Edgerton because there's not a lot for the teens to do here," she said.
Klamm hopes community members get excited, too. The center receives no funding and got started through volunteer labor and donated goods. It can always use more volunteers, he said.
"If you can get started, and people can see what you're doing, the support will come," he said.
Mar 11, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.
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Hi my name is Tyler Fish i am a executive board member for my place ... on behalf of my place we thank you for the positive feed back. thanks to the Edgerton community for all your support.
THANKS PS: there is an article in the Edgerton reporter about my place
Mar 10, 2009 at 9:14 p.m.
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thats funny jim:)
Mar 10, 2009 at 9:12 p.m.
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I think what Mr. Klamm and the students are doing is GREAT!! My son went to My Place for the opening and returned Monday and today (Tuesday). The students that volunteer there are very polite and helpful. They really have the 'want' to help guide their peers in a positive way.
My son has been VERY welcomed there. I spoke with both the president and vice president on the day of opening and ask questions regarding this being a place for 5th graders. In the beginning I wasn't sure what the age range was for My Place. I was told that my son was more than welcome to come. We talked about some things that 5th graders are interested in and both Emmy and Ashton were more than willing to write down some ideas I had and discuss them with the board.
In regards to the hours. I think for a start, they are just fine. My son is happy to know that he doesn't have to come home after school everyday now. Knowing he has a safe place to go and hang out with friends makes me feel good. He now has a new 'responsibility' which is great.
To the staff at My Place:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH and keep up the GREAT work.
Mar 10, 2009 at 8:56 p.m.
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Hannah griping about another person's grammar?
Pot, meet Kettle.
As for the teen center, that's awesome! Great job kids. I truly hope this works out for the best.
Mar 10, 2009 at 8:37 p.m.
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First, in regards to starting a sentence with the word 'And' I think that would be the editor of the paper mistake. You also spell sentence with an e not an a.
Mar 9, 2009 at 4:16 p.m.
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how about we just make these kids accountable and they get their class credit s in school, like everyone else. edgerton is always looking for ways to just give out credits to keep their graduation average up. this center will be an asset im sure but you have to wonder how many kids will use it with the time schedule set from 3-7
Mar 9, 2009 at 10:13 a.m.
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Phill Klamm is a first class person. I've known him for some time now and you won't find a more servant person than him. If you want a positive influence in your child's life, Mr. Klamm is the perfect person to get he/she around. This is a blessing for Edgerton!
Mar 7, 2009 at 8:55 p.m.
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Sounds like a great idea we need more people like this.
Mar 7, 2009 at 10:40 a.m.
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Mr. Klamm is a great guy and a wonderful teacher. My Step Son has him for Alternative and was also one the first students of Mr. Klamms to be asked to help out and be on the executive board of directors. My husband Mark and his friend Joe donated the computers as well as donated the items to set up the networking for the computers.
Too often we see kids running around Edgerton with no place to go or hang out. MY PLACE is a place for kids to go to, hang out and have fun. Parents won't have to worry about what their kid's are doing after school and can feel at ease knowing that their child is someplace safe and being supervised. Kudos to Mr. Klamm for doing something like this in Edgerton and giving a place that kid's can call their own.
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