And the rain came down...

And the floods came up...

It's such a cold, windy and rainy day in North Carolina. I hope it is warm wherever you are!

So, today, I am working on juvenile crime data in Union County. It is amazing how many young people fall into the system each year because of poor choices. It also disheartens me that the system is failing so many of them, especially youth of color. There are so few services available for young men and women, how can we expect them to change? When mom is working three jobs, dad is in jail or not in the picture, and grandma, who is in her 80s, is trying to raise them, how can we expect change? When the system throws them into detention, instead of offering hope to them, how can we expect change? How can we expect change when we are doing so little to offer a means for change?

Just a thought: what are you doing to assist in the cycle of change? No matter what your field of expertise is, you can foster change...be a mentor, volunteer at a youth center, donate to a local non-profit that serves these youth. If we want to make the world a better place, we better start with the youth of today...they are our future...

I challenge anyone who reads this blog to make a commitment, that some time in the next six months, do something for the youth in your community. No matter how big or small the gesture, it does make a difference in someone's life...even your own.

One final thought...When I first began my career at a local non-profit, I had a young girl that I was working with who was 13 years old. This beautiful, funny, and smart young woman made me laugh hysterically one day. I proceeded to give her a hug and tell her that I loved her. It was then that she burst into tears...When I asked what was wrong, she said, "No one has ever said that to me before."

How can we expect change when we allow young people not to hear those words or feel the power of our love? That young lady stuck with me and I think of her often...SHE is why I do what I do.