Chandra Jones
Prom Swap
An annual event, currently on its fourth year, Prom Swap is designed to build confidence, enable teens that might not have the money to buy a dress to attend Prom, provide a green alternative to buying new formalwear, and contribute to the community.
Prom Swap 2015 expanded to a second library, producing over 500 dresses to donate to Florence Crittenton High School, a school for teen mothers and their children, 300 non-perishable items for donation to the Jeffco Action Center, a local food bank, and many happy teens outfitted for their formal events at only the cost of some beans (literally).
2015 featured a costume designer to assist in altering and repairing gowns. In 2016, I hope to expand the Prom Swap to all libraries in Jeffco, as well as include color consultations for makeup by professionals, hair advice, and raffles for free dry-cleaning, manicures and pedicures, limo rides, and dinners.
After-hours lock-ins
Monthly events feature high-action, socialization, and sometimes pizza.
Hosting events when the library is closed to the public allows for relaxed rules (my standard rules are that no one gets hurt, nothing gets broken, and Chandra doesn't get fired).
Lock-ins are designed to build soft skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, handling negotiations, exploring self in a setting other than school, and socialization.
Recent lock-in themes have included miniature golf, a scavenger hunt, a murder mystery, and live-action Battleship.
Teen Writer's Workshop series
Created and planned by Belmar's teen advisory board, the Dream Team, the series takes place over a few days. TAB members spend much of their year contacting local authors and inviting them to host interactive workshops for teen writers. TAB members are charged with identifying potential authors, writing to them to invite them to host, negotiating the authors' bookings, and ensuring that the authors understand expectations. TAB is also responsible for distributing information about the events at their schools.
The Teen Writer's Workshop series is Belmar's first foray into patron-initiated programming. It gives TAB members opportunities for leadership, planning, , and confidence-building.
