I'd like to correct this statement by Eva Young:
"My former neighbor, Jane Strauss, sent her children to an Urban Ventures summer program some years ago that was funded in part by the neighborhood. Jane's summary of the program was "it was supposed to be recreational activities for the kids, instead they fed my kids ham and cheese and talked about Jesus!"
Rather inappropriate given the fact that Jane is an observant Jew, and was raising her children as such."
In point of fact my children were invited to participate in their programs, as well as those of an evangelical organization located in Phillips. I investigated the programs, and declined both to send my children to either (because they WOULD have been preached to about Jesus and fed ham and cheese) and to vote, as a member of CNIA's Board in favor of retroactive government funding of an Urban Ventures summer program. Instead, I sent them to a program run in St. Paul by an Orthodox Jewish group which was more in keeping with our beliefs and practice. I still do not believe (Bush's stand of FBO's aside) that government funding should be given to this kind of organization which will use the funds, de facto if not de jure, to advocate for practice of a particular religion.
" I wonder if Urban Ventures plans to include the increasing number of Somalian children, most of whom are muslim, in their program?"
Having worked with the Somali community, I also wonder about this. Especially since on reason given for hiring me was that, unlike the previous person who had been in the position I filled, I would neither bring ham into the office nor try to convert the kids.
Jane Strauss, Now of Longfellow Neighborhood
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