Published: September 26, 2008 10:41 am            

Mercer leaders learn among best of best

Editor's note: As a Community Connections media partner, I was privileged to travel to Washington, D.C., this week for the America's Promise Alliance 100 Best Communities for Young People National Forum. This is the first installment in a series of stories from the forum and the sessions it contained. Pick up next week's Princeton Times for more.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In Alma Powell's eyes, creating a better community is a lot like building a barn. They both take hard work, strong commitment and willing neighbors to raise a strong structure.

As the chairwoman of the America's Promise Alliance took the stage and the spotlight at Union Station Tuesday to congratulate the nation's 100 Best Communities for Young People, two delegations from southern West Virginia were among the capacity crowd she urged to continue constructing better tomorrows and stronger lives.

“In the early days of our nation, everybody came together if the neighbor needed a barn … The job of building a barn was too big for one family on a farm,” she said. “They understood the work could not be passed on to somebody else.”

While most modern-day neighbors don't gather for barn-raisings anymore, Powell said they still have an essential building job to do. They must construct communities that keep all five of America's Promise pledges: caring adults, safe places, healthy starts, effective education and opportunities to help others.

In a gala celebration moderated by NBC's Andrea Mitchell, Powell and America's Promise CEO Marguerite Kondracke applauded the 100 communities from Alaska to Hawaii, coast to coast and all areas in between that work long hours, join forces and refuse to quit when it comes to keeping those promises.

Like the barns of old, neighborhoods, communities and children are stronger for their work.

“You have built a foundation of knowledge and success upon which you can build, upon which America can build … We're working to raise new hope for our children and new expectations for ourselves,” she said.

Mercer County, a three-time Best Communities winner, and Monroe County, a two-time recipient, accepted more than applause and awards when they were named two of the 100 Best Communities. As Powell told them Tuesday, they now carry medals of leadership, collaboration and the courage to seek change that will improve their homes.

The Mercer County delegation that attended the forum included Community Connections' Greg Puckett and Jennifer Orren, United Way's Michelle Williams, DHHR's James Bradley, WVVA's Greg Carter, youth representative Tanner Hamilton and this reporter.

The highlight of the forum was the Union Station gala that featured a brief address by Gen. Colin Powell and keynote speech from Alma Powell, as they shared words of encouragement for the 100 communities in America that promise they will work to make life better for youth.

“You represent 100 communities that are speaking to America's soul,” Alma Powell said.

As such, it was appropriate that the spotlight then shined on performers who touched hearts and shook spirits inside the audience. The Howard University Gospel Choir brought the house down, and American Idol's Fantasia Barrino put the audience on their feet.

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As welcome as the celebration was among the communities it recognized, it was not the whole purpose of the forum in the nation's capital city.

“The celebration was phenomenal,” Puckett, who attended the forum for the first time this week, said. “We were very excited and even connected with some of the talent that was there. We're hoping to see if we can use the connections that we made to see if we can bring that talent to the area.”

As it turned out, Barrino and the Mercer crew were both at the J.W. Marriott Tuesday morning, and some of the group enjoyed a little face-to-face time with the High Point, N.C., woman who became an American Idol.

Throughout the session, the delegation also got the chance to talk with other communities, share success stories, search for ideas and aim for opportunities.

“I think the best part is just being able to share and collaborate with others across the country and really seeing what other people are doing to make their communities better,” Puckett said.

For example, one of the forums featured Manatee County, Fla., where seniors outnumber youth 23:1, a statistic that once left children and teens out of many civic processes. Then, four middle school students approached the volunteer center to see how they could help.

The result was a Manateens program that has now included more than 130,000 teens who have created more than 80 projects to give back to their communities. One of their favorites turned out to be Pet Awareness With Seniors, a program created by a 13-year-old who saw a story that said most seniors served by Meals on Wheels shared that one hot meal a day with their pets.

As a result, that 13-year-old started a campaign to collect and distribute small containers of dog and cat food to the same seniors, allowing them to enjoy their own meals and making sure their pets were fed too.

“That has to be one of the key components — making sure the kids do projects that the kids care about. That was my ah-ha moment today,” Williams said after the session.

Andrea Sealey, of Hampton and Newport News, Va., said her community experienced that same moment when they created Kids Involved in Community Kindness, a volunteer system that allows students to choose their own challenges and work toward solutions.

From newsletters and beautification projects to a program titled Young Men of Distinction, targeting possibly at-risk teens who would be the first of their families to graduate high school, Sealey said it's essential that the kids buy into every aspect of their community service efforts.

“The gift is not in the project. The gift is in the process,” she said.

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Once the workshops were closed Tuesday afternoon, the Mercer leaders shifted focus to another sort of delegation. Members visited Capitol Hill offices of Sen. Robert C. Byrd and Sen. Jay Rockefeller and talked candidly with Rep. Nick Rahall.

“For me, the legislative part is the biggest charge,” Puckett said. “Any time you go to Washington, D.C., as a constituent, you should take time to visit your representatives on Capitol Hill. They need to understand that there are issues at a community-based level that need to be addressed.”

As the Mercer representatives spoke with Kathleen Hatfield, Kate Denman and Rahall, some of those issues included underage drinking prevention, curbing the prescription pill crisis that has taken a particularly tough toll on southern West Virginia and exploring the opportunities of regional collaboration to build economic development.

“Trying to come up with solutions is really part of the process. It's empowering, and it really makes you feel part of the process,” Puckett said. “Voting is empowering, but just because you send lawmakers there doesn't mean you don't have a voice any other part of the time.”

One solid example of that lawmaker-community teamwork came to reality this week, when Rahall's office announced the release in more than $37,000 to benefit teen centers in Mercer and Wyoming counties. In Princeton, those funds will allow Planet Xtreme to purchase new computer equipment and revamp a teen-driven newsletter or magazine offering young people a chance to tell their own stories. In addition, it will provide funding so Planet Xtreme Director Tim Smith may mentor the Wyoming County Teen Center, The Spot.

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Since Mercer County is a three-time winner of the 100 Best Communities honor, it cannot compete in the 2009 program. Instead, Puckett said Community Connections and members of its vast network will help mentor other areas of the state. Puckett said the CCI has already signed on to assist in Morgan and Randolph counties in the 2009 application process.

In addition, he said the Mercer County Family Resource Network will continue to work toward America's Promise goals of increasing the high school graduation rate and improving the lives of at least 15 million young people over the next five years.

“Everybody has a story to tell, and everybody is working on great things. We all just have to find a way to tell those stories,” Puckett said.

— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.

        

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