The longer I work in the field of prevention, the more strongly I believe in the power of mentorship and connection. In fact, that is the essence of what our organization is all about.

Healthy connectedness, in all its forms, is the best protection against all kinds of risky behavior. For children and teens, spending time with parents, extended family, or trusted adult mentors and participating in sports, afterschool clubs, or service organizations bring multiple benefits.

Kids who are connected in healthy ways have been shown to suffer less depression and fewer suicidal tendencies and are significantly less likely to drop out of school, use alcohol and drugs, engage in early or unplanned sexual activity, or commit crimes.

MPY's work with kids is not about academics. Our broader definition of a successful young person is one who is not only knowledgeable but also emotionally and physically healthy, engaged with a community outside the classroom, prepared for economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world beyond formal schooling. Our definition of a successful community includes supportive educational environments in which children, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and others feel valued, respected, and cared about.

These are the ideals. The struggle remains-how do we get there from here? For starters, we need to acknowledge realistically that money may always be a limited resource, and time and talent as well. Often, parents, educators, and other community members who wish to support the healthy development of kids are so hard pressed for time, energy, and space for themselves that they can't conceive of taking on one more thing, however laudable.

But impact-the ability to connect- does not have to be equated with available time or money or with high tech input. An article I read recently, "Saving the World-One Person at a Time," by educator Susan DeMersseman, addresses "compassion burnout" simply by gifting kids who have good spatial reasoning with sketchbooks and markers. The Acts of Kindness website (www.actsofkindness.org) offers a grab bag of teachers' activities and fun ideas that can produce large dividends for small investments.

Here is where creative community building can help. Pooling diverse resources, especially our ideas, has been known to produce exponential results. And the resources of MPY's 60 member school districts and over 4,000 workshop and in-service participants trained each year are nothing if not diverse. Each of us brings to these trainings and carries back to the work that we do every day unique perspectives, educational backgrounds, family histories, and life experiences.

Our workshops and in-service trainings for 2007 focus on the power of communities and connection. Although nationally recognized experts are there to guide us, the real focus is on the resources that we have within our ranks. Talking, sharing strategies, recognizing a job well done-these are invaluable ways to strengthen our community.

With my best regards,

Margie Daniels
Executive Director, Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc.