I visited Green Cove Springs (GCS), which is the county seat for Clay County, the county just south of Duval County. More specifically, I visited with the folks in Precinct 606.
I found GCS very warm and inviting, which I attribute to its nice small town feel. If Jacksonville continues to grow, I could see more people moving to GCS just for this reason.
The issues here are essentially the same as in other precincts I have visited. However, I had a wonderful conversation with a longtime resident, who approved of my message of promoting education over transportation as a means of helping the people in Florida’s 3rd Congressional District solve their challenges.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Education Is A Higher Priority Than Transportation
I walked through the community near A. Philip Randolph High School off Golfair Boulevard in Jacksonville/Duval County within Precinct 08M. This area has a mixture of older homes and new homes, some built by HabiJax, a Habitat for Humanity Project. Based on my conversations, I believe there is a sense of community pride and cohesiveness among the inhabitants.
I was mainly interested in the people’s thoughts towards education. It seems that most believe education is a top priority for the community for the simple reason that with an education, youth are better able to find a job/career and avoid a life of crime. All with whom I spoke indicated that they support elected leaders that place education as a top priority over other issues, such as railroads.
I was mainly interested in the people’s thoughts towards education. It seems that most believe education is a top priority for the community for the simple reason that with an education, youth are better able to find a job/career and avoid a life of crime. All with whom I spoke indicated that they support elected leaders that place education as a top priority over other issues, such as railroads.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
No Silver Bullet
In my first post entitled, Sadness and Hope in Durkeeville, my observation pertaining to the tennis courts and lack of a skill center was not accurate. I learned the tennis courts are an integral part of a skill center operated by the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation (MWKF) after meeting, by chance, a board member of the foundation. Based this chance meeting, I realized I needed to conduct more research. I had the subsequent opportunity to meet with the foundation’s Executive Director, Terri Florio.
After my extensive conversation with Ms. Florio and tour of the facility, I have a new found appreciation for MWKF and the tennis courts. However, my research led to an interesting self-discovery period, which took me over a month to come to my conclusions that reinforced my prior convictions. Namely, helping the inner city solve its problems will not be easy and will require lots of fortitude over multiple generations. I hope that as a nation we have it in us because the results will pay dividends such as saving tax dollars and helping a group of people enjoy more freedoms and opportunities.
Florida’s 3rd Congressional District (CD-3) is unique in that it encompasses the inner city cores of central and northeast Florida, with the majority of the voters living in Jacksonville, FL. The common characteristics of these inner city cores are high poverty rates, greater incidents of crime and lack of job opportunities. There are many causes that lead to these less-than-desirable effects, but one form of intervention is programs like MWKF that work with the inner city youth to help them make better decisions so they can avoid a life of crime and conversely, have a greater chance of a more fulfilling and rewarding life than their parents and prior generations.
However, spreading the use of programs similar to MWKF is not feasible due to cost alone. Based on MWKF’s cost structure, I calculate it would require over $200,000,000 annually to help just the “at risk youth” in CD-3. There are other issues as well that prevent wide spread adoption of similar programs such as, lack of community support, not all youth will want to or suited to participate, etc.
There is no silver bullet or magic solution. So where do we start? Support programs like MWKF when we can. The following is also needed:
1. A desire in the community to affect change, which means acknowledging the issues and accepting responsibility when warranted;
2. A greater awareness, understanding and desire to help/mentor by those outside the community;
3. An ongoing constructive dialog between those in the community and outside the community; and
4. Effective leadership on local, state and federal levels.
After my extensive conversation with Ms. Florio and tour of the facility, I have a new found appreciation for MWKF and the tennis courts. However, my research led to an interesting self-discovery period, which took me over a month to come to my conclusions that reinforced my prior convictions. Namely, helping the inner city solve its problems will not be easy and will require lots of fortitude over multiple generations. I hope that as a nation we have it in us because the results will pay dividends such as saving tax dollars and helping a group of people enjoy more freedoms and opportunities.
Florida’s 3rd Congressional District (CD-3) is unique in that it encompasses the inner city cores of central and northeast Florida, with the majority of the voters living in Jacksonville, FL. The common characteristics of these inner city cores are high poverty rates, greater incidents of crime and lack of job opportunities. There are many causes that lead to these less-than-desirable effects, but one form of intervention is programs like MWKF that work with the inner city youth to help them make better decisions so they can avoid a life of crime and conversely, have a greater chance of a more fulfilling and rewarding life than their parents and prior generations.
However, spreading the use of programs similar to MWKF is not feasible due to cost alone. Based on MWKF’s cost structure, I calculate it would require over $200,000,000 annually to help just the “at risk youth” in CD-3. There are other issues as well that prevent wide spread adoption of similar programs such as, lack of community support, not all youth will want to or suited to participate, etc.
There is no silver bullet or magic solution. So where do we start? Support programs like MWKF when we can. The following is also needed:
1. A desire in the community to affect change, which means acknowledging the issues and accepting responsibility when warranted;
2. A greater awareness, understanding and desire to help/mentor by those outside the community;
3. An ongoing constructive dialog between those in the community and outside the community; and
4. Effective leadership on local, state and federal levels.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
What Came First, The Chicken Or The Egg?
Today I visited Black Expo held at the Prime Osborn Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Beyond the niche market demographic the expo catered to, it was like most others I have attended.
I was more intrigued by the average income figure of the target market listed on the ‘demographic’ section of the website promoting the expo. The average income of African-Americans living in the area, which Florida Congressional District 3 (CD-3) comprises, is slightly less than $27,000 per year or $2,250 per month and is $6,000 less the median income of all inhabitants of CD-3. I am intrigued by that income figure because of the causes and effects from such a figure.
The effects are easier to understand. I believe it is hard to live on that amount of income over an extended period of time, even more so if you are supporting more than one person. Arguably, one can only provide for current necessities and has little disposable income to purchase any kind of quality insurance (such as health, life, or property), to save for an emergency, to save for retirement, to invest in themselves by taking a course at a community college or online, and the list goes on.
There are probably multiple causes which are intertwined leading to less-than-an-average income. Without hope, persistence and a smart game plan, it would be hard to move up into a higher income level. The weak link is a lack of knowledge from an improper or poor education. But how does one know what a proper education is if they have been the beneficiary of an improper education. Hmm? It is kind of like, what came first, the chicken or the egg?
I was more intrigued by the average income figure of the target market listed on the ‘demographic’ section of the website promoting the expo. The average income of African-Americans living in the area, which Florida Congressional District 3 (CD-3) comprises, is slightly less than $27,000 per year or $2,250 per month and is $6,000 less the median income of all inhabitants of CD-3. I am intrigued by that income figure because of the causes and effects from such a figure.
The effects are easier to understand. I believe it is hard to live on that amount of income over an extended period of time, even more so if you are supporting more than one person. Arguably, one can only provide for current necessities and has little disposable income to purchase any kind of quality insurance (such as health, life, or property), to save for an emergency, to save for retirement, to invest in themselves by taking a course at a community college or online, and the list goes on.
There are probably multiple causes which are intertwined leading to less-than-an-average income. Without hope, persistence and a smart game plan, it would be hard to move up into a higher income level. The weak link is a lack of knowledge from an improper or poor education. But how does one know what a proper education is if they have been the beneficiary of an improper education. Hmm? It is kind of like, what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Monday, October 5, 2009
Shrinking Standard Of Living
I visited the neighborhoods of Deland, Florida in Volusia County that comprise Florida Congressional District 3 (CD-3). It should not come as a surprise, but the neighborhoods were comprised of people that were less affluent than those that live in the other neighborhoods of Deland that surround CD-3. The issues of poverty, lack of employment opportunities, as observed in the other parts of CD-3, are here, too.
My first visit was with a community recreation center where I had the opportunity to speak with a man that was focused on helping young men avoid the life of crime. He himself had been in prison once. He turned his life around with the help of God and was now an associate pastor at a nearby church, but during the week he worked at the center.
My longest visit was with a group of two men and a woman sitting outside relaxing under the setting sun. All were frustrated with the economy and lack of job prospects. One even complained that his wages were stagnant, yet the cost of living had increased. I can fully understand his plight. He is not alone and I believe more people will join his ranks because of the effects from our past and current fiscal policies.
Our ongoing deficits and large national debt will eventually lead to inflation. Even worse will be anemic wage growth due to foreign competition unless workers can provide greater value obtained through ongoing/lifelong training and education. The good news is that those who can provide value by solving other people’s problems will find employment that provides financial security.
My first visit was with a community recreation center where I had the opportunity to speak with a man that was focused on helping young men avoid the life of crime. He himself had been in prison once. He turned his life around with the help of God and was now an associate pastor at a nearby church, but during the week he worked at the center.
My longest visit was with a group of two men and a woman sitting outside relaxing under the setting sun. All were frustrated with the economy and lack of job prospects. One even complained that his wages were stagnant, yet the cost of living had increased. I can fully understand his plight. He is not alone and I believe more people will join his ranks because of the effects from our past and current fiscal policies.
Our ongoing deficits and large national debt will eventually lead to inflation. Even worse will be anemic wage growth due to foreign competition unless workers can provide greater value obtained through ongoing/lifelong training and education. The good news is that those who can provide value by solving other people’s problems will find employment that provides financial security.
How Does SunRail Benefit The People?
In Orlando today, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown and U.S. Congressman John Mica hosted US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray H. LaHood for a briefing session on the status of high-speed rail in Florida. More specifically, Secretary LaHood was there to put pressure on Florida to fund the SunRail project (a central Florida commuter rail system) so it has a greater chance to win federal funding for a high-speed rail system.
Even though I advocate rail transportation, the thing that bothers me about SunRail and the initial leg of the proposed high-speed rail in Florida is that it provides very, very little benefit to those
in Florida Congressional District 3 (CD-3). All this show and tell as seen in this photo makes me wonder whom my Congresswoman is really representing? I do not think it is the citizens of CD-3.
If she were truly representing us in Washington, she would be focusing all her hard work and dedication on those things that would provide a greater impact to our community such as:
1. Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education,
2. Healthy Families and Communities, and
3. Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
Even though I advocate rail transportation, the thing that bothers me about SunRail and the initial leg of the proposed high-speed rail in Florida is that it provides very, very little benefit to those
in Florida Congressional District 3 (CD-3). All this show and tell as seen in this photo makes me wonder whom my Congresswoman is really representing? I do not think it is the citizens of CD-3.If she were truly representing us in Washington, she would be focusing all her hard work and dedication on those things that would provide a greater impact to our community such as:
1. Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education,
2. Healthy Families and Communities, and
3. Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Boys2Men Symposium, A Community Sponsored Program
I attended the Boys2Men Symposium sponsored by Northside Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Florida. I visited the conference to see first hand the programs designed by the community to help young men in the community achieve success.
Based on what I saw, I would say the symposium was a success; however, this is an isolated program that primarily helps young men that live in the surrounding neighborhoods. There are many other neighborhoods that could benefit from such a program. The challenge is finding the resources, the commitment of a strong leader over an extended period of time, and support from the community to make it a success.
Based on what I saw, I would say the symposium was a success; however, this is an isolated program that primarily helps young men that live in the surrounding neighborhoods. There are many other neighborhoods that could benefit from such a program. The challenge is finding the resources, the commitment of a strong leader over an extended period of time, and support from the community to make it a success.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Harlem, NY Is Not In The District
On my trip to NYC I visited the folks of Harlem Children’s Zone (as shown in this picture).
I made a visit because it serves as a basis for Jacksonville’s New Town Success Zone. Prior to talking with a Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) staff member, I walked through Harlem to talk with people on the street to learn their thoughts about the organization.
Of those that knew of HCZ, all spoke favorably. I met a couple of families with young children whom were living in shelters in other parts of the city prior to moving into the zone so their children could benefit from the programs provided by HCZ. I also talked to a student currently enrolled in the programs. He beamed with a broad smile, because he credits the program for giving him the opportunity to attend college the following year.
Following my walk, I debriefed a HCZ staff member that I support their mission, but was concerned that we may be raising a future generation that may believe that these programs come free and will be free of charge for their children if and when they have any. I was told that they are aware of that and that their programs (beyond academic counseling) provide rewards only to those children that have demonstrated positive behavior (attending school, doing homework, etc..). Sounds fair and reasonable, but I am still not sure; however, HCZ has improved lives, which is a major accomplishment that I applaud.
I made a visit because it serves as a basis for Jacksonville’s New Town Success Zone. Prior to talking with a Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) staff member, I walked through Harlem to talk with people on the street to learn their thoughts about the organization.Of those that knew of HCZ, all spoke favorably. I met a couple of families with young children whom were living in shelters in other parts of the city prior to moving into the zone so their children could benefit from the programs provided by HCZ. I also talked to a student currently enrolled in the programs. He beamed with a broad smile, because he credits the program for giving him the opportunity to attend college the following year.
Following my walk, I debriefed a HCZ staff member that I support their mission, but was concerned that we may be raising a future generation that may believe that these programs come free and will be free of charge for their children if and when they have any. I was told that they are aware of that and that their programs (beyond academic counseling) provide rewards only to those children that have demonstrated positive behavior (attending school, doing homework, etc..). Sounds fair and reasonable, but I am still not sure; however, HCZ has improved lives, which is a major accomplishment that I applaud.
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