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It takes a village to raise a child |
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To the Editor:
It seems in SE Minnesota our picture-perfect communities are perhaps
some of the greatest places to raise a family. But what we don’t
usually notice are the un-supervised children who are experimenting
with drugs, alcohol and sex during the after-school hours. We do not
usually pay much attention to the trailer parks and run-down apartment
complexes where oftentimes children live in poverty and without access
to quality enrichment activities. Most of us are unaware of the
minority children who must struggle daily with racism on top of all of
the usual trials of being human and adolescent.
Did you know that of the 957,300 school-age children in Minnesota
today, 35%, or 335,055 children, are unsupervised after-school and only
8%, or 76,584, of Minnesota’s K-12 youth are able to participate in
after-school programs? Minnesota children and youth living in
single parent families account for 21% of all households, with higher
proportions in African American and Latino families. And Minnesota has
one of the highest percentages of working parents with school-aged
children in the nation.
We’ve heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” yet many
kids continue to fall through the cracks. And it’s up to all of us to
help raise the children in our villages. Why? One
reason: 9 out of 10 police chiefs agree that “If America does not
make greater investments in after-school and educational child care
programs to help children and youth now, we will pay far more later in
crime, welfare, and other costs.”
One great way to make a difference is to volunteer with after-school
programs such as Project Get Outdoors. Focusing on outdoor recreation
and nature, Project GO is hoping to implement FREE after-school
programs within the 26 school districts of blufflands region of SE
Minnesota in order to help under-served children in grades K-8
experience the wonders of our natural world and to help them establish
healthy fitness routines and develop environmental awareness.
Since 2005, more than 100 adults of various ages and abilities have
found great satisfaction volunteering with Project GO. Opportunities
abound to share your outdoor skills and interests such as bird
watching, gardening, rock collecting, trout fishing, biking and much
more. Besides volunteers, Project GO is in need of supplies,
donations and many in-kind items to help better serve the children in
our region.
Two summers ago I was deeply touched during my volunteer experience
with Project GO, when a young Latino boy, a child of migrant workers in
the Plainview area, shaking with excitement and joy while our group
trout fished at Forestville State Park, shouted, “This is the best day
of my whole life!” It was very humbling to know that I was able
to help provide that experience if only for that one child.
I encourage you to visit the Project GO website at
www.projectgetoutdoors.org and find out more about how you can get
involved with this amazing program.
Sara Grover
Preston, Minn.
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