Youth Master Plan

Our nation is facing an epidemic - young people are losing their lives to violence at unprecedented rates. Children are living in broken homes and learning in broken school systems. They live in a world that is short on love and long on empty promises. As a result, they are turning to gangs to provide the shelter, sense of belonging and opportunity that our community does not offer. This horrific national trend is being felt in our own backyards with the recent murders of two young men. The tragedy is that two lives were lost, the reality is that even more have been destroyed - as two coffins were made, two jail cells were prepared.

The challenges that our children are facing must be dealt with at a national level. Systemic overhaul is needed to ensure that every child - regardless of their background - has equal access to educational and economic opportunities. President Obama must take on this fight if we are to see large-scale change. However, local government is not powerless. We can take the necessary steps to save our children and the future of this City.

I have proposed that the Council spearhead an initiative to sponsor a Youth Master Plan (YMP). This has been done in communities across the Country and is considered a best practice. The YMP will bring together stakeholders at all levels - government, schools, non-profits, Churches, parents and youth - to set a vision for our City's young people. It will provide an evaluation of our current resources and set a strategy for how the City can best address the needs of our children going forward. In addition, it will arm community organizers and local officials with information on state and national legislation that best addresses those challenges unique to Plainfield. I will be working with the City Council and all of Plainfield's elected officials to pull together a strong team of community members who will lead this effort. In order for this to be successful, the entire community must work together - devoting time and talent for a shared goal. All stakeholders must unite for a worthy cause and invest in our most precious resource - our children.

Several years ago, my mother wrote a song entitled, "The Child Belongs to Me". This title is so timely and I had to share the song here. The words remind me that we can only help our young people if we take responsibility and take action:




Details and deadlines for the YMP will be spelled out soon.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

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Election Day

Be sure to vote today! The future of our Country depends on it!

I am voting for the party that will support our President -

Democrats (Line A):

Congress - Frank Pallone

Freeholder - Linda Carter

Council - Rebecca Williams and Bill Reid

and the rest of the Democratic slate.

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