Chicago, Schools and More - Part II

Yesterday I called for taking action to get those who do the peddling of drugs and violence to find a useful place in society by selling cars rather than dope or work in a store rather than on a gang controlled lot or street corner. Yeah, that sounds good but it is 'pie in the sky' in a sense.

So, how to avoid 'pie in the sky' and make this a reality, to insure the safety of our children, our school students. It will take time, money, commitment and effort. Okay, we've heard this before but what does it mean in concrete terms?

To get the gangs and guns off the streets it will take risk takers, those willing to start a business, those willing to give people with a couple of strikes against them the opportunity for a real job. It will necessitate that local leaders; church personnel, community activists as well as civic and govt. institutions step forward to be the ones to find worthwhile jobs and activities for those who are doing harm.

It will take former and current offenders of the law to sit down with one another and all the stakeholders, and others, I mentioned in the previous paragraph to settle problems and disputes. Because, whether it is war between gangs or nation-states, in the end, a war is concluded by a peace treaty.

We have to work towards this end. There are too many children our charity sees almost everyday who, unknowingly, are at risk.

Dick

First Steps

Our charity works with young people by assisting them in school. It's no mystery why we do it. A public education is fundamental to realizing ones worth, potential and the contributions they can make to their family and country. But ours is a mission that can't be the sole element of helping people, a neighborhood and nation.

This morning Mary Mitchell, in a Chicago Sun Times piece, pointed out the fact that the alleged person charged with the death of Takiya Holmes was 'protecting drug turf when he fired at drug dealers who were selling marijuana on his crew's spot.' This according to Cook County prosecutors.

Here's the point, WE, yes we, have to see to it that not only drugs are off the street but that jobs are put back on these city lots. Selling cars has to replace selling dope. Selling groceries has to replace peddling pot. Putting federal dollars into building factories is more vital than 'bringing in the feds.'

Get our young men off the streets and into a factory. Get them real jobs and help to make their lives meaningful. For the sake of these people, and all the innocent people killed, let's see to it that we do our part to stop this madness.

Dick

Yes, It's Got Worse

Sadly, one of the two girls - an 11 year old - shot over the weekend, has lost her life. One would think it couldn't get more horrific but it did on Tuesday afternoon after a two year old was shot and killed. This senseless loss of life, as I've said before, robs everyone. I'm disgusted...disgusted.

As I am writing this blog, I have just learned that the 12 year old girl has also died.

Yes, we can help these fine citizens. There is a laundry list of what can be done to assist our fellow citizens. Let's clean up the neighborhoods, create meaningful jobs and businesses in the neighborhoods, help the schools, fix roads and houses, repair homes, resource community centers, see to it that laws are followed, provide adequate protection, see to it that appropriate counseling is provided to those in need. That's just a partial list!!

The time for talk is over!!! I can assure those we work with Schools Count Corp will do its part to help and I'll personally see to it that I do my best to enlist the assistance of others.

Dick

Horror of Shootings

Everytime I think of the two girls who have been shot, one 11 years of age, the other 12, I am left staggered and bewildered by it all. At the same time, honestly, I'm furious to think that the situations faced by these and other children can be boiled down to a purely law enforcement/gang/violence epidemic. There are plenty of moving parts that lead up to what happened over the weekend.

For starters, I hope people come to the realization that these are two school children who are simply going about daily lives. It doesn't matter if they are black, white or of another complexion. They are the children of our city, state and nation. So we had better realize this right up front and demonstrate some empathy for the over 30,000 people who die each year from firearms.

By the way, I just noticed that U.S. House of Representatives - yesterday - passed a bill making it much easier for those who are mentally ill to get their hands on firearms. Okay, I digress. Well, may not.

And while it is true law enforcement and gang violence has to be dealt with by law enforcement agencies, it's also true that it has to be addressed at another level...the level of prevention. And these preventive measures have everything to do with mitigating against the needless shooting of two innocent school students.

I'll take a deeper dive into these measures in the coming days.

Dick

Schools, Shootings and More

A mere 25 minutes apart two young girls, ages 11 and 12, were shot by random bullets. No the bullets weren't intended for the girls but NOW it matters. It matters because two girls, who are in critical condition, are likely to have the best years taken from them. It matters because they are human beings just like the rest of us. And it matters because they simply would want to live out their lives as best as possible.

And it matters because our charity is working in the inner city of Chicago and we are trying to do our part so that children, like these two girls, have the opportunity to not only escape the violence and poverty they are born into but they can live decent lives and perhaps do something about the blight that they had NO PART in creating.

You've heard this before, from various people, but it needs repeating. Shooting one person is like shooting all of us.
And yes, it's true. Robbing the family of an innocent child is robbing the entire American Family.

And, yes, I'll have more to say about the American Family tomorrow.

Dick

Curious to Know

With a new Administration, it has occurred to me that many of the various events that may, on the surface at least, seem like they have little to do with public education may very well play out in our schools. What I am referring to are the potential actions within the State Department with regard to immigration and they Department of Education with regard to funding and follow the mandates with regard to various title programs.

What are young people, whose parents may be here legally or illegally, thinking with regard to their future? How are the 'dreamers' responding to the potential ban put in place by the President? What will happen to funding for such critical programs as Title I, Title II, Title III and Title IX? How will school respond to these questions and potential actions? These and other obvious questions are the crux of what could affect young school children.

Sadly, I see a potential for the State Dept. and the Dept of Education to deal a double blow to school children who live in the shadows.

Dick

My Take - Dept of Education

Seeing to it that every American has an excellent education, no matter ones station in life, is paramount. I've said that on other occasions and nothing has made me change my mind. In fact, as time passes, it is my hope that we can all agree that achieving such an end is worthy and helps everyone.

This means that if a person, for any reason, suffers from the plague of poverty then we see to it that the education they receive is just as good as that of an individual who hasn't had to fight to overcome the obstacles that come without having money. Poverty is just one of the fronts that has to be taken on to help children.

Certainly physical ailments, ones mental condition, where they live, their age and any other individual or environmental factors should stop us from seeing to it that students should receive a top flight public education. If some don't want a public education that is their choice but, we can't afford to leave anyone behind.

That's just what I intend to do...to keep an eye on various institutions to see to it that no one misses the bus.

Dick