Last week at a meeting that was unprecedented in terms of gathering such a vast array of community stakeholders, the air of cooperation began. If you weren't paying close attention you may have missed it. It was like a small puff created by a butterfly's wings. Did you know that the puff of air created by a butterfly's wings can create a hurricane on the other side of the world? Yes my dear friends, a butterfly can affect the weather, it's called "The Butterfly Effect." One puff of air or word proceeds out of your mouth can change the atmosphere around you. Do your words create Bright Spots?.
I heard many people speak (we always do) but this time something was different. I heard the Mayor say that he would contact the other stakeholders and convene a meeting and stay in that meeting for as long as it takes to come up with solutions. We need to hold him to his word. This morning I read about the Buffalo Board of Education's vote on a Turn Around Plan and I was impressed. That plan provides for the creation of an EPO or Educational Partnership Organization for 7 schools. A Partnership dedicated to putting Children First is a key component in providing hope for our children. This could be a good start.
Youth With A Purpose Inc. is already part of a Partnership at School #6 and we have met in that School with officials from the State Education Department to discuss our partnership with students. We are excited on behalf of the students we serve and we believe that as the Partnership grows so will our children.
Although this is The Bright Spot Report, we would like to interject a note of caution. In his "I have A Dream" speech, Martin Luther King spoke of "The tranquilizing drug of gradualism." We cannot allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security by small changes. We need to keep pushing and paying attention in putting Children First.
No comments:
Post a Comment