Unique Opportunities: Safe Summer attendees encounter fun surprises at Palmer Park

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It’s crowded at the Palmer Park Community Center in Landover, with hordes of preteens and teenagers bustling through the front lobby, many others playing basketball in the gym, and still more enjoying the three televisions set up with video games in the game room. “We always have a big crowd, about 50 or 60 kids,” said Safe Summer staff member David Alexander. And as accompanies many large crowds, there is plenty of noise. Teens are laughing, chatting, cheering and joking. However, in one room, the noise dies down, though the crowd is not entirely absent. In the activities room, about 10 preteens and teens, both boys and girls, are huddled around a table where Audio Engineer and Producer Stan (Substantial) Robinson records a hip-hop song right in front of their eyes. The kids are quiet, intently listening as Robinson, with his recording instruments and laptop computer at hand, explains how dozens of different sounds, some distinct and some barely noticeable, come together to make one rap song. “If you bring it down here, they’ll sit and listen,” said Alexander. Robinson gives the kids more than just an opportunity to watch and learn, but asks them what they would like to hear next, taking input on what types of sounds and beats should accompany his lyrics. When 15-year-old Elantez Henton gave his input, the producer not only agreed, but allowed Henton to come play the sounds he chose for the recording. “It was tight,” said Henton of his chance to get involved in the recording, “I didn’t expect that.” It is opportunities like these that keep youth coming back to Palmer Park, unique experiences that they couldn’t have found on their own. As 16-year-old Safe Summer attendee Kareen Hart explained, “It’s fun, it’s tight, it lets you express your mind.”