Viewpoints
Health of community depends
on old growth and new growth
By Diane Gubatayao
August 12, 2005
Friday
Mary and Dick Kauffman, you are the best. Thank you so much for
your continued time, energy and measureless hours devoted to
sustaining this website. I especially appreciate Mary's recent
profile on VISTA volunteer, Steven Alvarez. What an awesome example
of a community asset builder. Initially, he shared that he was
inclined to fault adults in the community for the challenges
facing youth--such as the high drop out rate of capable students
or the high incidence of illicit drug use. Mary portrayed the
transformation in his thinking, the discovery that it is a shared
responsibility. And therein lie the solutions. For years PATCHWorks
and the Revilla Island Prevention Coalition have promoted youth/adult
partnerships as a way to strengthen the community. Ketchikan
Youth Initiatives is a powerful demonstration of that partnership
and I hope it thrives.
It reminds me of the spectacular
Tongass forest surrounding Ketchikan. The health of the forest,
like the Ketchikan community, depends on the old growth and the
new growth. They need and protect each other much like the adults
and youth need each other.
I honor so many of you in Ketchikan,
for whether or not you perceive it, there is progress in youth/adult
relations. Considering the limited commmunity resources, you
are leaps and bounds ahead of communities in Calfornia that have
far more. Your wealth is measured in the more important one of
human relationships. I wish KYI and Steven Alvarez a bright future.
Diane Gubatayao
Davis, CA - USA
Related story:
Alvarez's Year Long Service In Ketchikan
Positive... By M.C.
Kauffman
August 05, 2005
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