Youth Creating Change Director Maxeine Mitchell, and members Troy Harrison, David Thompson, Aisha Chambers, James Odum, Fabian Farrington, Troy, Kevin Cruz, and Terrell Baldwin. Maxeine Mitchell is changing lives. She's changing lives because she cares. In her leadership role as Director of Youth Creating Change, known as YCC, Maxeine has taken more than 40 teenagers in Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough under her wing in an attempt to teach them the ups and downs of running a business and living a successful life as a result of their efforts. 
The local youth group has opened a retail store YCC/Identity at 106C N.Graham St. in Chapel Hill, selling the latest fashions at affordable prices. The entire operation is run by the kids, with the help of some caring adults. Their board consists of 9 members, with an advisory board that also helps by providing their business expertise. The Board members are Michelle Brown from Pine Knolls, Elizabeth Carter from Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools, Fabian Farrington from Empowerment Inc., April Fuller from the Hillsborough Cedar Grove YCC, parent Darlene Pettifore, David Thompson of the Chapel Hill YCC, Annette Moore from Orange County Human Relations Department, and Bessie Wiggins from the Hillsborough Sertoma Club, who is the Board President. Their Advisory Board consists of parent Vanessa Chambers, parent and consultant Harvey Reid, Darryl Lester from Hindsight Consulting, and past president Shannon Saunders. Each member of YCC is required to attend monthly meetings and work in the store. David Thompson is the President and Chief Executive Officer. James Odum is the Chief Financial Officer. Tearirra Saunders is the Purchasing Agent in charge of what they buy to sell in the store. Aisha Chambers is the Secretary. Nikke Reid is the Public Relations Officer. Each of the youths is assigned a task. Each shares in the rewards by particpating in group outings, such as trips to the beach, amusement parks, and other fruits of their labor. This week they will sell barbeque plates at Weaver St. Market's After Hours weekly Thursday night live music offering. All of the money raised went to Youth Creating Change. 
At the meeting this month guest speakers included CHPD Officer Melvin Smith, who works in this neighborhood. While he admitted that the way he does things is far different than the kids around the room, Officer Smith also expressed his desire to better understand today's youth, so he can learn to work together with them to make a difference in the neighborhood they share. He told the kids about the "We Care" program, a forum for young adults that will be occuring on June 29th. at McDougle School from 9 am until 2 pm, encouraging them to attend. "We like working with the good guys," Smith said with a smile. MaryJean Williams, from the local chapter of the NAACP, who recently started a youth group, encouraged YCC to join, and expressed the desire of the group to get teenagers' perspectives. Also addressing the group was Katie Cook from the Orange County Manager's Office, who came seeking ideas for a webpage geared toward today's youth, and asked the kids to complete a survey expressing what they'd like to see on the page. The YCC/Identity store is open Tuesday from 10 until 3, Wednesday through Friday from 10 until 6, Saturday from 10 until 7, and is closed on Sunday and Monday. If you're looking for a new outfit or pair of shoes, or if you would like to become involved with the efforts of YCC, stop by their store at 106C N.Graham St. in Chapel Hill, across from the Empowerment Inc. building, or contact Maxeine Mitchell at 929-2266. Computer Stuff | Downtown Carrboro Map | Events | Prices | Restaurants | UniqueOrn Enterprises 
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