This isn't a magic bullet. It's not usually a lot of fun to do, because you're usually involved with people you may have had conflicts with and that you may not like.

The biggest question is, are people ready to do something different? If they want to perpetuate the status quo, they'll continue to do that. So long as people think they can amass legal political power and beat whoever, that's what they'll do.

If the group has the ability to compel an action, some people won't come to the table at all. It has to be a safe place, so you can disclose what your interests are. Generally these groups come up with some recommendation they take to a body, an administrator or legislature. To the extent that they've had all the stakeholders present, every one I've been involved with has been accepted.

They have no reason to reach an agreement. They're only there to stop other people from achieving one, or to express their ideological views. Some groups have had legislators in them; they don't have an interest in the outcome, but they feel strongly about how things need to happen.

It should be fun performing with the Roger Humphries Big Band. Some of the toughest people in the music come from Pittsburgh. Do you know who Roy Eldridge is? He was the king of the trumpet. He took over from Louis Armstrong.

While these activities may be fun, they can also cause kids to diverge from their daily routines and become overextended.