CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
OF STANDING FOR AMERICA'S CHILDREN

Reported by Froswa' Booker-Drew

Exclusive for the Liberty Group Education Newsletter

The Children's Defense Fund's National Conference was held
March 25-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Thousands of youth
workers, advocates, policy makers, and others interested in the lives of our
children attended the conference hoping to gain insight and discover new
ways to address the ills our children face. The Children's Defense Fund,
a national organization dedicated to children and their issues, celebrated
25 years of service and advocacy for children.

Participants took part in skill-building workshops as well as "Beat the
Odds", a salute to Los Angeles youth who have overcome tremendous obstacles
in their lives. Celebrities such as Quincy Jones, Maya Angelou and Henry
Winkler were on hand to commemorate these brave youth who are
demonstrating success despite the challenges they have faced. Panel
discussions--which included dialogue on topics such as "Growing Up In
America: The Importance of Race and Culture" and "Community Building"--
allowed audience members an opportunity to reflect on our lives as young
people and the way times have changed for our youth today. These
workshops gave us an opportunity to question and review those programs
that are working for our youth. To the surprise of many critics, there are
a number of programs all over the country that have made an impact on youth
violence and crime, teen pregnancy and other crises faced by our children.

Many issues of importance to children on a national, state, and local
level were raised. Senate Bill 10 could pass, placing children in adult facilities
to be subjected to rape, sodomy and assault by inmates. Instead of
investing in prevention-based strategies that work, this bill has failed to
address the issue of rehabilitation and reform. Instead of trying to save a
generation, out of our frustration, we are going to punish them without
examining and treating the causes of the problem. It is important to look
at prevention strategies instead of focusing completely on intervention and
reintegration work.

Children should be held accountable for their crimes. Yet as youth
workers, we understand that they are still children--with problems that must
be addressed and dealt with. It is our job as adults to create effective
solutions to solve these challenges we face as a country. There was also
an opportunity at the conference for residents of each state to convene to
discuss the $48 billion State Children's Health Insurance program and how
each state can begin implementation to ensure our children have a healthy,
happy start.

For me, I discovered that rural communities in Mississippi and urban
metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles have very similar concerns...we are
all experiencing a crisis with our children. There are adults who not only
care for children but also have dedicated their lives to their well being.
Yet, we are all facing limitations in finances, resources, and commitments
in time and services that adults are willing to give to our youth.

The conference confirmed that regardless of race, socio-economic
status or educational attainment, our country's future is at stake. We can only
empower the future (our children) when the present (adults) are willing to
take responsibility and accountability for our own actions. As adults, we
must take positive action to guarantee that America can truly compete in the
future. No matter how many programs we create or develop, we must develop
our greatest resource, our children. Our work, our life, our love should be
our children. Attending the conference rejuvenated me through the workshops,
the panel discussions, and the social mingling opportunities to reaffirm why I
am still "standing for America's children."

The real big highlight: I actually met Marian Wright Edelman, my hero,
the woman who founded the National Children's Defense Fund, and I took a
picture with her at the conference!

Things All of Us Can Do:
Next year's National Children's Defense Fund conference will be
held in Houston, Texas in late April of 1999. Make plans to attend!
Start a CAT: Community Action Team, a powerful community-based
tool to work for children. Contact: Laurie Cooper, Regional Outreach Director,
Stand For Children, Tel: (202) 234-0095 ext. 104 or E-mail: laurie@stand.org
for more information on how you can impact the lives of children in your
area or to see if a CAT already exists in your community!
National Youth Service Day is April 21, 1998. Learn how you can
participate online by contacting www.servenet.org.
For more information about the Children's Defense Fund and its
programs such as Freedom Schools, the Student Leadership Network for Children, Beat
the Odds, or Stand for Children, check out their website at www.childrensdefense.org.

Froswa' Booker-Drew is currently the owner of Soulstice, a
consulting agency that provides program development assistance,
training, workshops/seminars, consultations/coaching, and assessments
for adults, youth, their families and those agencies that work on
behalf of their empowerment.


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