Dear Source:
There are many youth programs in place throughout the Virgin Islands, all with a common goal – to enhance and enrich the lives of our children, particularly those at risk, and to encourage them to succeed
as students and to learn to participate in their community. What are lacking are not more programs; what IS lacking is something bringing them together, island by island, in a unified, coordinated approach. A Youth Council on each island, with representatives from existing youth programs, could make a real difference without adding more layers or requiring more redundant funding.
Shawn Michael Malone has been collecting contact info from various organizations for a youth directory. His list would be perfect source material for someone to start gathering these good people together. I have envisioned many ways that these 'umbrella groups' might be organized and what their role might be; but the participating organizations would most properly be the ones to sort that out, once they determine which needs and functions are common and merit sharing, and which are best kept 'in-house.' On St. John alone, we have the Love City Pan Dragons, the LDPP Band, the Love City Leapers, various sports under the auspices of Housing Parks & Recreation, Beacon School classes and tutoring, school and church youth groups, youth classes at St. John School of the Arts, activities and tutoring at John's Folly Community Center, scouting, and still other programs. The bigger islands will have much longer lists.
A side issue is the shortage of parental participation in many groups. Perhaps when parents have "one-stop shopping" for programs for their children, it will make it easier for them to schedule not only their children's participation, but their own.
Many hands make light work. Let's hope that those of us already struggling to make a difference can find a way to do it more efficiently and effectively.
Elaine Penn
St. John
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