Susette Hart has always been a “glass half-full” person.
She doesn’t deny the reality of challenges in life and the local community, but as president of the Clarkston Coalition For Youth, she is convinced of the potential for the positive to win out.
“I will not deny that we have issues in this community like every other,” Hart said, “but I think the potential for not having those issues here is present also. I just have a really big heart for youth.”
The coalition was founded in the late 1990s as a way to help fight substance abuse in the community. Their philosophy gradually evolved to one of promoting 40 developmental assets identified by the Minneapolis-based Search Institute as having a positive influence on young people’s decisions and behavior.
“In the presence of these tremendous qualities, they’re in the best position to be competent, caring, responsible and reliable,” she said, according to the research. “The fewer of these assets that are present in their lives, the greater the opportunity for the high risk behaviors to come into their lives.”
The challenge taken on by the coalition is to educate people in various segments of the community to promote at least a few of the “assets” in their work. The group has garnered participation from churches, schools, government and the business community.
“If we’re about building and sustaining a healthy community, the beautiful byproduct of that is going to be that we will, in fact, be in a position to reduce all the high risk behaviors,” Hart said. “When someone has cared, it has made a difference.”
The coalition is not so much a group recruiting members as it is promoting opportunities for people in the community to capitalize on the opportunities to do what they already do well.
Toward that end, the coalition has organized a thrice-yearly “leadership forum” involving “key stakeholders” including representatives of the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce, Clarkston Community Schools and local governments. One result of the January forum was the creation of a cooperative Web site for community events (www.clarkstoncalendar.org).
“It’s that kind of effort we hope to see more of as we travel on together,” she said, “collectively recognizing the strengths we have in pulling together.”
The coalition is also working on a “community youth mapping” project, hiring youth to conduct interviews of other students using an instrument developed through Michigan State University. The goal is to help determine what young people believe makes up a good community. Hart hopes to have results of that project at this fall’s leadership forum.
“We went in listening with open ears,” she said. “I think it will be a wonderful instrument to help the key stakeholders look at some of the potential areas to be developed.”
Aside from such projects, the coalition is most interested in helping a wide variety of groups respect and support each other in a common purpose (again, based on the 40 “assets”). In addition, those who wish to volunteer their efforts will be used in practical ways according to their own skills and interests, with an emphasis on relationships.
“We’re not about people attending meetings,” Hart said. “We’re really about people actively engaged in enhancing the lives of youth where they’re at.”
A local doctor, for example, is following the “asset” approach in his medical practice, she said, and a local advertising writer has provided services for coalition promotional pieces.
Even as a parent, Hart recognized the “asset” program as an organized concept of something she had felt for years.
“It was the big ‘aha,’” she said. “This is what I had been striving for without having a clue. The assets are simply a framework to identify where we need to put our efforts.”
As president of the coalition, Hart now promotes this framework, hoping to get people to join the conscious effort to provide some of the assets in their contact with young people.
No one individual is responsible for all 40 assets, but the hope is that the collective effort will cover all the bases.
“If we are able to make available to everyone in the community the total picture, and if each of us are able to identify that piece of the picture we can concentrate our efforts on, then inevitably our youth will get what they need,” she said.
An example of respect for other segments of the community, Hart said, is an effort by the Clarkston school district to minimize the number of school events on Wednesday evening, in recognition of church and civic group activities.
She admits it is not a “quick fix,” but “an 18-year plan.” Nonetheless, it is a long-term plan that will “set up our youth for success, not failure.”
It’s been a long-term commitment for Hart as a parent. She and husband Tom have nine children (one of whom is adopted) ranging in age from 30 to nine.
“We love parenting,” she said. “At this point, I’m happy to report we’ve been effective.”
With hectic schedules and a variety of demands, the Harts began hosting an annual “cousins camp” at their Independence Township home five years ago. It’s only one two-night affair each year, but it gives a great opportunity for support of the extended family.
“I knew the value of building relationships,” she said. “I looked for a way to do what I could do in a realistic way. It’s an awesome experience for all of them.”
With one of their daughters in the high school marching band, the Harts host a bonfire for the band to offer another fun event with provision for safety and supervision.
“I believe very strongly in boundaries,” she said. “I also believe every opportunity is a learning opportunity.”
Around 1997, when the coalition began to focus on the asset approach, Hart became involved. First, it was as part of a “parent network,” and she eventually became part of the coalition’s board of directors.
“I’ve always been committed to family and children, and I’ve always volunteered,” she said. “When the coalition began to take a look at this asset framework, I felt it provided something tangible.”
Following what she said is a nationwide trend in local communities, Hart is attempting to spread the message at the county level, and there are plans to bring together 21 existing local coalitions for cooperative efforts.
“It hurts my heart to read or hear about any youth that is not reaching their full potential,” she said. “If I can aid the process, then I will have felt the time and energy is worth it.”
In her spare time, Hart enjoys birding. Although their property is a good spot, the family also enjoys traveling to Canada each spring to see the birds. Reading is another pastime (especially after the kids are in bed), and she enjoys cake decorating as well.
In the meantime, Hart continues her campaign to recruit as many people as possible to join the coalition’s efforts. She emphasized that no special qualifications are needed.
“We all have a passion,” she said. “We all have some wisdom. The potential is there for everyone. If somebody is struggling, we’ll help them come up with a way [to participate].”
Using resources from the Search Institute, the coalition has made available books for parents and others either for purchase through Independence Township Parks and Recreation or for borrowing from the Independence Township Library.
For more information on coalition activities, call (248) 922-3004.