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L UM- I second.
<br />CHAIR: And I agree, it's just that I'd like to—
<br />L UM: -- Discuss—
<br />CHAIR: --yes, and I'm just curious about the program, because I used to teach at
<br />Kea 'au Middle School, and I know people at Kea `au Middle School, but I've never
<br />heard of this program. This program runs only in the summer? Or—
<br />LIVELY: - -No, no, every day after school. Actually, we —the group formed because
<br />of a class that Noelie Rodrigues had at the community college. It was a socio —it was
<br />a community development class, and she invited me in. Like Liz, I'm also a
<br />facilitator with Research and Development, and I should probably not open any more
<br />cans of worms, but —so she contacted me, and I audited that class, and so in essence I
<br />attended for free, which you know, I love school so much that I was willing to do
<br />that. But I helped them to organize —we did community meetings out there, a series
<br />of like 15, 16 meetings, where the people really identified what they wanted, you
<br />know, to see, and it was all addressing the meth —the increased meth use in the area.
<br />And the parents, you know, came out in droves. They wanted activities, especially
<br />after school for their kids, and they really identified this age group. And it was —I
<br />have to say that the principal stepped up to the plate. He was very welcoming, and it
<br />really takes administration, you know, DOE, in that way to step up and to allow these
<br />programs. So anyway, he did, and so the first year we operated just with donations,
<br />and just doing after- school tutoring, homework assistance, just —not really
<br />counseling, but what we called circles where the kids could just, you know, talk to
<br />peers and talk to —we used a lot of help from the community college and the
<br />university as far as, you know, people power, the mentors, tutors. So that's pretty
<br />much what we're continuing to do—
<br />CHAIR: --And it started when?
<br />LIVELY.- What's that? In 2003.
<br />CHAIR: 2003. And it's free?
<br />LIVELY.- It is free, absolutely. We do —we provide a meal, a snack—
<br />CHAIR: - -And is it—
<br />LIVELY: -- transportation—
<br />CHAIR: --just Kea `au Middle School students, or do you get them from the
<br />elementary as well?
<br />LIVELY.- They are sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.
<br />CHAIR: Oh, six, seventh, eighth, which is the high -risk-
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