--- Eva Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Part of the problem I've had with CNIA -- and this > isn't just since the > "Blue Crew" took over -- is that the organization > worked in two many areas. > Youth programs is really beyond what a neighborhood > organization should be > doing for example. It reminds me of how many at the > City seem to think the > city should be funding social service programs -- > when this is the County's > responsibility -- certainly the City of Minneapolis > should be holding the > county accountable for their responsibilities.
As a parent, I have to strongly disagree with the statement that youth programs are beyond what an organization should be doing. Before neighborhood organizations were taken up with NRP planning and the monitoring of governmental bodies, they existed to improve the quality of life for citizens in their communities. Citizens are not recognized simply as adults with hobby gardens or music appreciation concerts, but they are young citizens as well, and when local parks, schools and/or other programs and entities fell short, the community stepped in. No matter what community I live in around the world, I feel it is my duty to be as concerned with the rights and livelihood of its tiniest citizen as I would be with the local housing initiative or the business entrepreneur. Just because they cannot vote with a red, yellow or blue sticker at a meeting is no reason to disregard or relegate them to become someone else's responsibility. If any of us thought it was a job that some agency, and some parents for that matter, could do all by themselves, we would need no PTSO in the schools; no church auxiliaries; no park and recreation volunteers, etc. It is not social welfare's sole responsibility, nor Big Brother and Big Sister's, nor the YMCA, etc. It is ours, the community's, all the way down the line. And in the case of the President of the USA, all the way up the line as well. We must hold ourselves, and each other, forever accountable. Pamela Taylor (A mother/grandma/protector of all children - big and small, weighing in from Tampa) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Greetings - send holiday greetings for Easter, Passover http://greetings.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
