I read with concern the growing problem of teen crime and references in the wake of the mailbox and postal service employee injury. One writer mentioned the teen center, the Market, in Fayetteville and why no one ever tried that concept.

I resided in Peachtree City from 1987-2001 and saw the growing problem for young people with too much time and money on their hands. In 1997 I ran for city council on a youth platform and afterwards the PTC Rec department endorsed my plans for a teen club.

Jitterbuggers Teen Club opened June 10, 1999, and ran until Feb. 1, 2001. During this time we provided jobs for 35 teens at $6-$8 per hour, promoted over 35 bands from 12 area high and middle schools, earned metro wide grants from the United Way, and was a member of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Our swing dancers performed throughout metro Atlanta and our website helped promote youth centers nationwide.

Since this time, I did research for the Robert Johnson Foundation concerning youth problems with drugs and alcohol, participated in the school districts for Newton and Rockdale County for youth and teaching related causes, and worked with the Gilmore County Commission to see about establishing a teen center in that north Georgia county.

More recently as a financial consultant, I worked with a St Louis, Mo., company that catered to professional baseball during the season but had a facility that was underperforming. I suggested it have teen/family nights, nonalcoholic during off-season and they implemented this suggestion quite profitably.

My book, “Jitterbuggers Teen club:Communities and Youth in Action,” will be released by www.trafford.com in spring 2008. The book will include documentary, pictures and DVD of the music and activities and will tell communities the action plan to help bridge the problem of youth crime by deterrent and prevention.

Jitterbuggers Teen Club was also mentioned along with Peachtree City and Covington in my current historic fiction sci-fi thriller, “The Terror Trail,” released by www.trafford.com Oct. 30, 2007.

Concerted effort is needed to help combat the growing crime problem facing metro Atlanta suburban counties and I hope to show what can be done with the history of Jitterbuggers.

Richard Thompson

Covington, Ga.

login to post comments