Senator Jack Johnson congratulates YLB student Shannon Evins.

The Youth Leadership Brentwood Class of 2010 had a graduation ceremony at the Brentwood Public Library Wednesday night.  The class of 20 is made of high school students from Ravenwood High School, Brentwood High School, Brentwood Academy, Franklin Road Academy and Battle Ground Academy.

To prepare for the graduation presentation, the group of 20 divided in to four groups and spent the day developing theoretical projects.  Each group bid for one of the four projects that included city improvements to city festivals.

The first group presented the café idea as The Novel Brew.  The group suggested that an existing area of the library be converted in to a café that included a serving bar, a refrigerated space for sweets and sandwiches, and small performance stage.

Group two proposed a city dog park.  The location suggested was a large field at Crockett Park knows as the Meadows, naming the project Meadows Bark Park.  The park would include two fenced in areas where dogs could run leashless.  For humans, the group suggested a gazebo be placed in the park area where public notices could be placed for lost, stolen or possible adoptee dogs.  For the four-legged friends, obstacle courses equipment and toys would be provided.  There would also be water fountains for both species.

Project three provided a little lesson in history.  When the Brentwood Public Library site was originally excavated, native American artifacts were found from the Mississippian tribe.  The suggestion was to create a festival that would educate Brentwood residents about the history of the area.  The festival, which would take place Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, would include traditional Native American arts, crafts and musicians, food vendors, and native dancers from the Creek tribe.

The fourth and final group presented an idea for a public activities center called the Cooper Activities Building, nicknamed the CAB.  The building would be a multi-functional facility that housed space for dance, yoga, pilates, and spa services.  But beyond that the facility would provide a place for clubs such as garden clubs to meet and alternative classes in cooking, art, songwriting and group music lessons.  The group suggested childcare would be provided with activities such as parachute games, board games, and puppet shows.  The CAB would make an effort to hire local teens to give them job experience and responsibility.

Senator Jack Johnson was there to present the YLB class with congratulatory certificates for completing the program.  City officials were also on hand for the graduation including Mayor Betsy Crossley, Paul Webb, and Joe Reagan.

Congratulations to the 2010 YLB Class members: Sarah Allen, Allie Arnette, Meredith Braun, Matthew Brown, Danielle Dauchot, Claire Donaldson, Andrew Elmlinger, Shannon Evins, James Fan, Kendall Gilfillan, Patrick Gill, Matthew Keller, Keegan Leyrer, Savannah Marquardt, Shilpi Misra, Katie Pair, Doug Schorkopf, Natalie Shuff, Megan Wallstedt, and Adam Weatherell.