LEGISLATIVE REPORT: KEEPING AMERICA'S PROMISE THROUGH THE GENERATIONS

No one makes it through life alone. Every success story has a parent, teacher, mentor or coach in the background offering guidance on the path to greatness. Unfortunately, many children and young Americans don't have a mentor in their lives. And despite record economic prosperity - young people today - even in our rural communities of Southern Missouri face tremendous challenges. Many desperately need a helping hand.

As your Representative in Congress, I believe in the American dream. It's a dream that brightens the future for every new generation of Americans. It's a dream that is made possible by the fabric of our communities. I genuinely believe that every person, every institution and every business can make a difference in the life of a young person. If we pitch in and work together, we can re-ignite the American dream for the next generation and give them the resources necessary to become successful, productive adults.

We must be dedicated to build and strengthen the character and competence of our nation's children and young people. And the best way to impact the lives of young people is at the local level with personal attention. Programs such as Colin Powell's America's Promise, with its goal of helping young people through public and private partnerships, is an excellent example of what is possible at the local level. America's Promise has mobilized individuals, communities, counties and businesses and jump-started mentoring programs and after-school activities in cities and towns all across the country.

Here in Southern Missouri, there are many people, communities and businesses dedicating time and resources to help our children reach the promise of the American dream. Everyday, parents, teachers and friends spend time with our children and teach them the values and skills needed to build a happy and productive adult life. Dunklin County built its "County of Promise" by expanding existing youth initiatives such as summer programs for girls and boys, recruiting corporate mentors to help youngsters learn job skills and find gainful employment, and sponsoring high school juniors and seniors who have excelled in community service. In addition, there are currently twelve local "Banks of Promise' in our Congressional District actively helping to change the lives of many kids in their communities. Our local banks are setting up mentoring programs that teach children to make more informed decisions in their lives and are hiring kids to work after school to learn marketable skills. And bank employees are being encouraged to coach or otherwise participate in youth sports teams and organizations.

We all recognize that government cannot do it alone. Government alone cannot instill hope nor replace the power of the human spirit. Even one community or industry's embrace of America's Promise and the personal commitment to the organization's founder, General Colin Powell, has potential to reach millions of young people. Just think how much more we could accomplish in Southern Missouri for our kids if more communities, counties and local businesses supplement and expand their outreach efforts. Many of us already pitch in every day, and we need more to join in to help get the job done.

The desire to work together is a distinctive American characteristic. Our nation flourished in the early days through the spirit of volunteerism and neighbor helping neighbor. The spirit of volunteerism is a priceless American asset. Let's work together to cultivate and preserve that asset for ourselves, our community and for future generations. After all a familiar quote adequately sums it up, "One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

* For information on becoming involved in America's Promise, call 703-535-3900; write to 909 N. Washington St., Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314-1556; or visit www.amaicaspromise.org on the internet.