Open The Door And Walk Through
The tendency in the not-my-problem ‘90s is to close the door to society’s worries. It’s too dangerous otherwise, too risky. It’s easier to bemoan the direction of humanity while feeling secure knowing you’re beyond “that place” where kids turn to crime, where families have few options, where desperation leads to bad decisions.
It takes a rare, selfless person to open the door. To go out there. Spokane is fortunate to have several of those remarkable people.
A group of African American men and members of the American Indian community have become role models for minority youth in trouble. They have, in effect, become role models for all of Spokane.
About 10 men in Spokane have responded to the increase of arrests of young African Americans by stepping forward to act as mentors. The N.A.T.I.V.E. Project started a juvenile offenders program that offers anger-management and substance abuse treatment to young Indian offenders. Both groups were spotlighted in a Spokesman-Review story Sunday.
The programs are a refreshing answer to the reverberating question, “What are we going to do about juvenile crime?” Instead of more jail cells and tougher sentences, these programs depend on a human touch. People helping people. How revolutionary.
Ask any teens who’ve been in trouble what might have made a difference in their lives. Invariably, you’ll hear, “Someone who cares. Someone to talk to.” Often, kids who turn to crime do so because they see no alternative. They know no one who faced what they’ve faced, and succeeded. No one who’s seen what they’ve seen, and survived.
Too frequently, their lives present a bleak future. American Indian youth are consistently last when it comes to measures of education, income and lifestyle. They’re at the top of the charts when it comes to alcoholism and drop-out rates. Much of the increasing problems that face African Americans can be summed up by the shocking revelation earlier this month that the real income of black families hasn’t changed since 1969.
As with anyone, their lives mirror what they see. In some cases that means violence, drug use, theft.
But someone has decided to help. And the African American and American Indian mentors are just the people to do it: inspirational success stories from all walks of life.
The goals are modest; as The Rev. Ezra Kinlow says, “to turn one kid around every so often.” The mentors will do it by being there, for court appearances, for advice, for companionship. And, as proof that with hard work and determination, anyone can turn their life around.
That’s a far better message than what society’s offered so far.
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Anne Windishar/For the editorial board