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Community covenant ishe e- ded . to assure a safer future for yout" ,*"' By Clarence Hightower have beaten the odds. We cele- prevents nsi them from experiencing this world a place of peace,hope Seven' belles of a what it means to be a partici �,, brate their success just as we what most of us coder.4 nor- and opportunity for our young healthy an in a health community. n On July 2, the Star Tribune would that of our own children. mal childhood. Too many chit- people. I am asking you to make an a t mem er o , reported that 41 people had been Similarly, when tragedies occur dren and young adults come to that commitment. I.-,1s a-member of the commu- community, I believe that I"- murdered in Minneapolis in the such as the murders of our stu- our school hungry,tired and un- I challenge the adults in our nity,t`realize the importance of responsible for creating a s ifirst six months of 1996. The dents, we mourn because they prepared to learn.They;are with- community—both professional. education.I understand that edu- environment where young pe .� count, 10 fewer than last year at too are 7-we"re—our children. out hope, without'positive f ole'.and nonprofessional, not just cation is the key to.a bright and `can enjoy being young: •L j ithis time, yet higher than two I write today out of the rage, models; and adrift on a sea of people of color, but people of rewarding future.-for our young work to ensure that our chic tyears ago, caused speculation the frustration,the desperation I crime and illegal drugs whict}can every race, men and women, ur- people.I pledge to create oppor- are safe and have safe place! ` ,about whether we were heading 'feel at the senselessness of their only lead to a bleak future. ban and suburban—to consider tunities for everyyoung person to participate in wholesome f ih toward another record-breaking deaths.Two boys, 13 and 16, are Those of us who have lived, how we can rebuild the "social receive a high school education creative play which will help year of violent crime. gone forever.One was killed in an and worked in these neighbor- component"of our community, and an opportunity to further them develop confidence_and I noted that count and com- alley on his,way home from the hoods for years remember-a time We must change the moral cir- their education. -, _pared it with a count of my own. Mall of America, one in his own when our streets were peaceful.I cumstances of our lives and the II. As a member of the com- VII.As an adult membei+'o My count is two. It seems small home after a squabble with an- want to believe that they can feel moral circumstances of the lives munity, I believe that we are a community,I believe that I ha by comparison, but it looms in other boy. Both spent their last that way again. I consider it a of young people in our core cit- universal village,where responsi=, responsibility to work to redtf e� my mind and sets a record I hope days sitting in our classrooms, personal challenge to see that the, ies. The goal of such change is a bility for the children of our vil- unprotected sex I will work to ed �1 is never broken. I am the presi- hanging out with friends on our people in these communifies social climate that;.will inspire, lage is shared by all adults. The cate young boys and girls abo ,dent of The City Inc., an alterna- front steps.Within hours of leav- aren't abandoned to a fate many young people to liyy&lives that are success or failure of any child is the risks of teenage pregnanci tive school with sites in north and ing school, they were taken dead consider inevitable. I do hot be- safer, more hopeffil irlore value- the success or failure of my child. and the awesome responsibili south Minneapolis. Of the ,41 or dying to emergency rooms. lieve that "inner city" has to be oriented and morkp`ioductive.. III. As a member of the com- of being a parent.I will enco people murdered, two were City Neighborhoods in the near synonymous with despair.; I am asking for. a :personal munity, I recognize the dangers them not to become se Inc.students. north and south sides of Minne- I am very much aware that commitment Aebnce, 'the adult of using and selling drugs. I will active as young people. The City Inc. serves the heart : apolis have.been besieged by vio- there are more components to a members of theunities so ensure that my.neighborhoods Hopefully, you are as of Minneapolis'inner city.Many lent crime.We gather in churches "living community"than moral- affected by the poverty are notsafe have s.for those who yourself how;you, as an indi ;of the young people who come to and community centers to dis- or value-related social issues.Un- and social discord of'the past. I use or`sell illegal; nigs".; ual, a business or a religious ti us have had difficulty in other cuss how to restore a sense of employment and urideremploy- am asking the adults in my com- IV. As a,rn,�ember:;of the com- ganization,can participate in tt�ea ,schools; some have been labeled safety and order to our streets. ment,housing stock,community munity to stand up and be count- munity, l>Alin a0a"e;of the allure making of a covenant. The ar1Z not likely to graduate,some have infrastructure;the economic base ed among the legions who work of gan ` low to'try to tinder- sinner,plain and simple,is toJd4 turbulent home lives, some are Our Mouth are drov f ing and physical conditions in which for brighter and safer futures for stand •tie frustrations de' our the choice to get involvhomeless,.some have chemical I have a unique vantage point we live, all of these factors shape our children. youth, and to provide them with whatever level you feel app.dependency issues. The City from which to observe our young how peacefully we live and work What comes to me as I search positive,alternatives.I will ensure ate.I am reminded of a stoJnc.'s mission is.to provide these' •people, and what I see is fre-. with one another. for answers,both for me person- that my neighborhood is not a advises how to eat a really,young people with fiver. oppor quently troubling.I have watched; We cannot ignore the physical ally and for the agency I repre safe haven for those involved in large elephant. .. one sma-tunity possible to succeed. Vvth growing sadness and alarm and economic components bf our sent,is the notion of a covenant. illegal activities. : :_ at a time.Now is the time;tas these young people are left communitie"s that needserious This notion is not new, but for V. Asa member of the com- that first bite.All kids are Our kids increasingly unprotected and un- improvement but I choose to fo- me it fans the fires of resolve. munity,,I have a.moral responsiThis June, 14 of our students in$pired. cus on.the social;:aspe t« a so- To further the general debate.: bility.to,ensure, atyoungpeople — Clarence Ifightower 4.,*graduated. Of those 14, 12 have Every day, students tell me' cial aspect is simultuieously the about what is needed to redirect are equipped with the moral re- dent of The City brc. of.M ; .made plans to continue"their that they are afraid to walk to most accessible and the.most dif- the energies of our young people solve and personal responsibility apolls, a multiservice,,nanpcfpri education at postsecondary insti- school, that the streets of their ficu It to address. I don't want to and surround them with support to assume leadership roles in our agency serving inner-cio..yo• -tutions. We are tremendously neighborhoods are unsafe. The bury another:child. I am willing and meaning,I offer a comuni- community. I'will.nurture` our people and their fams �#. m e proud of these young people who violence that surrounds them to do whatever it takes to make ty covenant: children and teach by example 1967. __' .._ew,..o..r:+e+w+w...ii.�.__ __ .. � �_�-_._.. ..,.- ,,-.._._ -:.-t;-�. ,..�.-..-i �,..,., .__._-�. -.'.. -;-�.- --,. - i-v*t v.•4•'4.- y-'\.-t.-��-'l. r. ir'i.-�..w-',-'�' -t-�.-\--1. ,v;1,.y-.yri.i. ,` �..-,_-y.-�..�A..nriw�� ..+..,.«.�+.� .Jt,,.. - -.,.; --.....w....a.,o.aJ..+.l:rv'+•�+-[.'«.....c.A4w...�+-� v..�.^�t^l+Kn-w.•.l. .r.... x._.s:._xrt :�.. Z";- - _r�-i h :�t.s. s j. r� -