Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 2/25/10 Section: Features

Media Credit: Jenni Klamm

Level, a teen organization which is held at the Plymouth Youth Center, has been running for two consecutive years now. If you read the Muskie Happenings or Volunteer Opportunities, you may already know that Level Teen Lounge has been looking for college-aged mentors for the past couple months. Mentors work with middle school and high school kids to help with homework, give advice, or even act as a friend to play or hang out with after school.

This non-profit organization's roots were planted right here at Lakeland. Kim Oreck, a graduate of Lakeland College, was inspired by Pam Engebretson, the Head of academic advising, and Doctor Don Francis, professor of non-profit organization management. "If it weren't for either of them, this organization would probably have never started. I originally was an education major, but I switched to non-profit and fell in love with it," Oreck stated. However, this was not her first non-profit organization. She also started a group honoring stay-at-home mothers, but she admitted she did not know much about grant writing, among other things, which is why she made the switch.

Oreck realized that the Plymouth community needed something for the kids to do after school to relieve them of boredom, ultimately keeping them out of trouble and away from drugs and alcohol. "I interviewed 275 teens, and this is what they came up with," claimed Oreck. The students who helped Oreck initiate Level's existence were in charge of everything from planning how it would run and the name of the organization to its marketing. "I let the kids take ownership of the whole thing so they felt trusted. If they made a mistake, I let it go; that's how you learn, by finding things out on your own," Oreck stated. One of the founders was Adam Ackers, a sophomore nonprof management and Sociology major at Lakeland.

Level provides a safe and drug-free environment for the students after school every day, free of charge. Anyone can come and will feel welcome. "Kids [who] don't feel they fit in anywhere are accepted here," says Oreck, whom is called "Mom" by many of the kids. "Many of them even add me as their mother on Facebook." Depending on the day, 200 students or less show up, drop their coats and books off, and come right inside.

Food and beverages are available to the kids at a low cost - the food ranges from ice cream and pizza to popcorn and hotdogs. "Our prices haven't changed in ten years," said Bennie Fritz, one of the volunteers at Level. He and his wife, Joyce, have been working at the Plymouth Youth Center for many years.

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