[nikki25]

I'm loving the course that this thread is starting to take...looking for solutions.

This brings me back to the question that I posed earlier: What will you personally do to ensure that boys and girls under your influence begin to think differently about themselves and relationships with others?

Sure, we can think of what government programs should be done...but I think we need to stop projecting a need for X, Y, Z program ('cause you know that you've not contacted your congressional rep to make the recommendation, although you SAY that you will) and take some personal or community-oriented initiative. Now, I'm not saying that a government program wouldn't be good...but I don't think that they always do what they intend. How can you develop leadership and self esteem among youth? I'd like to hear of any non-profit orgs. you are in or know of....so that perhaps we can move from tragedy to triumph.

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Here's what I DO

*College Student Ministry (17-22 year old age cohort), Spiritual Leader at my church
*I have been active with mentoring programs for young teenage girls
*I speak with young women and men...I find out what they are thinking and try to help them make good decisions

What I would like to do?

*Become locally active with organizations that target girls within the 11-14 age cohort. That is truly the life changing period...mentoring, role modeling, whatever can be done at the community level to reach out to these girls is something that I want to be about. I'm working now to develop a community action for this age group where I live because that is something on my heart.