There is an epidemic among the youth of our community, that invokes the consciousness of the private, business and faith based sectors of the nation. The number of underage pregnancies, suicides, underage drinking, drug use, criminal behavior and educational dropouts has continued to escalate despite the measures that have been used for generations. The youth today find themselves combating many negative influences that could ultimately lead to the destruction of an entire generation as well as, the debasement of our entire economic and social structure. We as a society, have been trying to combat these issues by lecturing, informative posters and literature, and punitive measures to no avail. It is unacceptable to allow the number of youth that are at-risk to follow the pattern that has been demonstrated.
The future and success of our community is dependent on the children of today. If they are not living in a safe and nurturing environment we will find ourselves at risk for a continuation of poverty, crime and disease. No child is expendable and each child must know their value.