WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN FERGUSON MO: 1. The churches in the area (all races) will join together as a team to identify and address the issues of divisiveness. A certain portion of their congregation will be required to join another at least once per month. 2. A multiracial coalition of community members take responsibility for each these issues. 3. Meetings for each area would be held at least monthly to identify the tasks, priorities, resources, and progress. 4. Local teams would be formed to address blight, cleanup, repairs, and painting. These teams would be paid reasonable wages (not minimum, but not union scale). Funds would be received from insurance as well as local and federal sources. 5. Churches would establish youth mentoring programs that would do the following: - Provide basic living skills (education gaps, skills training, image, demeanor, . . - Provide motivation and self-worth coaching - Identify aspirations for success - Help self-evaluation (Where am I?, Where do I want to go?, . . - Identify what they need to connect those? - Find the resources to make those steps 6. With government assistance, establish cooperative employment programs with local employers in conjunction with their new focus. This could be work/study, entry level jobs to skilled trades, and/or special skills (restaurant management, chef, machinist, CAD, medical technician, computer network, cabling and computer center technician,. . .) 7. As each youth progresses, they will be required to mentor another through their lower step(s). 8. Establish financial and recognition levels for achievements (very public). I am sure that others have great ideas as well, but this should get the community headed in the right direction.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 03:07:26 +0000