Tucson SPORT - September 2007 - (Page 49) to that our proximity to the border and the myriad of other sorts who flock here for our gorgeous weather, intoxicating sunsets, yummy cuisine, and world-class resort hospitality… Face it…we are diverse and we are going to get even more diverse. So, that being said…as we collectively try to Activate Tucson into the global model for community wellness, with Dr. Richard Carmona and Mayor Bob Walkup at the regional helm, I ask myself….As a collective community… Are we really doing everything we can to do together, to maximize and synergize our regional efforts to really capitalize on our rich, diverse offerings? Are we truly enriching, funding and supporting k-12 educational systems and resources? Are our actions in line with what we truly believe? And what we say? What’s it going to take to really take the lead in creating a true global model? Research and studies have found that the majority of our children’s character development takes place in early childhood, where the majority of their waking hours are spent in the schools. By the time they reach junior high, most kids have already started to lay the bricks to the directional foundation of their life paths… and most of all of these bricks have been formed by parental and societal values, mostly media-driven messages, such as this. Here’s my message to you…as parents, businesses, media buyers, media outlets, government leaders, and industry leaders…let’s wake up and just check ourselves for a second, especially as we get ready to send our kids off to school for a brand new year of life experiences. Are we truly and effectively bridging the best set of values and enrichment resources to our future generation? Are we doing everything in our power to preserve resources, and to increase the overall flow of quality information and to deliver it directly into our schools on a fair and equitable basis? Whether its racism, obesity, illiteracy, or apathy, it’s up to us, both on a public and private level, to make sure our kids are headed in the right direction that will ensure that they thrive in a diverse, compassionate, and global community. Currently, statistics show that a majority of our kids are not on that path. We must enrich our schools…period. Really, it’s up to us to change their direction. It is possible that the generation on track to be the first generation not to outlive their parents can be the same generation to make that cultural shift and outlive us all, but it will take a community-wide effort to guide their way. Oh, and by the way…the ROI on this type of current dollar educational investment will prove to be immeasurable for the generations to come. “WHETHER ITS RACISM, OBESITY, ILLITERACY, OR APATHY, IT’S UP TO US, BOTH ON A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LEVEL, TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THEY THRIVE IN A DIVERSE, COMPASSIONATE, AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY. CURRENTLY, STATISTICS SHOW THAT A MAJORITY OF OUR KIDS ARE NOT ON THAT PATH. “ w w w.tu cso n s p o r t. n et | T U CSO NS P O RTM AGA Z I N E 4 http://www.tucsonsport.net
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