Recently, in Baltimore, Maryland several hundred youth, their parents, teachers, and other supporters gathered to protest Mayor Sheila Dixon’s series of proposed budget cuts to various youth resources.
These youth and community members highlight the discourse on how cities and neighborhoods across the must deal with the absence of supportive environments for youth. Fewer opportunities for positive activities in neighborhoods mean that more children and youth will turn to the streets and engage themselves in unstructured activities. Therefore, it is necessary for cities to continually question what resources are available to effectively engage youth in their communities. The concern for youth has focused heavily on schools, and while this is an important aspect, more attention must be paid to what happens after school, and during the summer months. Investing in opportunities for youth is the key to creating effective social capital, which can thereby strengthen the lives of youth and the communities in which they live, attend school, and work.
The people of Baltimore understand this. After their protests Mayor Dixon promised to restore some funds and is open to using other revenue for youth programs.
Read more at The Opportunity Agenda’s website.
