udfan12

Clevelander, Examples of youth creating jobs are definitely more rare than examples of youth in leadership roles, I must admit. But a great example of youth leadership is the YOC or Youth of Coventry whose purpose is to change the image of teenagers in Cleveland Heights and to "give the youth a voice on social issues in our community," according to their facebook page. I believe they formed after the curfew was put in place, after the flash mob of young people at the Coventry Street Fair. http://www.facebook.com/youthofcoventry http://media.heightsobserver.org/issue_pdfs/TheHeightsObserver_Vol_04_Issue_08.pdf

I don't think, necessarily, that grade level in schools make much of a difference (K-8 vs K-4, 5-8). I'm sure there are successful examples of both types of schools. What interests me is the amount of neighborhood networking done by the school. There is a concept of a youth development "pipeline" as a defined route for children from birth through their academic career, into post secondary education or job training, into finally a career path. The better the local network that each school is engaged in (with other schools, out-of-school time programs, local businesses, etc..), the more that pipeline can be defined for each student. Also I think, especially, for high schools, the importance for job readiness, cannot be overstated. It should be made explicit that the further you advance in your education, the more money you will likely make. But that does not mean that everyone is made for college. My example for this is the Christo Rey network of schools. They are Catholic Schools in urban locations who arrange work study positions for all of their students. The students work at the schools' corporate partners subsidized the school tuition. This allows for a private education, for a fraction of the cost or no cost, and St. Martin de Porres, the Christo Rey HS in Cleveland, admits only lower income families. The students work experience is worth more than gold for the student. Close to 100% of St. Martin graduates go onto college. We must begin to put the responsibility of not only holding jobs on our youth and young adults, but also creating jobs. High Schoolers are not a helpless group of adolescents waiting for whatever the world has to offer them. They are resources and leaders in our neighborhoods. We must treat them as such. Regarding parent participation, it's a hard nut to crack. It is definitely a positive influence on children, having involved, caring guardians, but at the same time I know a number of high schoolers basically on their own, with more ambition than I could have even imagined at their age.

You are comparing Dayton to three of the largest thirty US cities. Akron and Toledo would be a much more fair comparison and those places are lame. Dayton may be at a low point but its got a hell of a history. Highest inventor per capita ratio I think in the world * exaggeration*, an unbelievable funk/disco scene in the 70s, and an eternal hub for aviation innovation

This is a heated issue, but this type of generalizations don't help anything. I do agree that Kasich's policy tends to hinder income distribution, but you cannot say that that is his agenda. But things like limiting transportation options to low-income travelers do create added barriers to the most economically stressed demographics. I think he doesn't know better. His only interest seems to be cutting costs in the state. Why he continues highway expansion investment despite his so called budgetary priorities is beyond me.

Funding additional service to Wright-Patterson AFB would be a colossal waste of money. This is actually a good thing, that the money isn't going to this. Highway expansion is a bad thing. Public transit by the county's largest employer is a good thing.

Lame? Bonnets Books is one of a kind, Thai 9 is off the chain, plus the addition of Omega Music! Oregon District is always a fun destination.