Summer break is here. What now?
Today marks the close the school year for Broward Schools. Our youth are as excited about the summer as we were growing up. Trust me, I know. I have 2 boys of my own who attend elementary and high school here in Pompano Beach.
But, what will our children do this summer? Will they attend a summer school session or will they be attending summer camp? Can we even afford to send them to summer camp?
As much we’ve seen evidence that our economy is rebounding, many of us are still facing financial challenges. We lack the extra money to send our kids to camp or go on a family vacation. I believe our cities can help with this. Maybe not send you on vacation but they can surely provide reduced cost, low cost or no cost summer programs to help keep our youth active and stimulated throughout the summer break.
I’m happy that Pompano Beach has so many great programs within our Parks and Recreation and Cultural Arts Department. As well, we have many great non-profit and faith-based organizations providing summer enrichment services for our youth. The unfortunate part is that not all of these programs and organizations will be filled this summer because they too lack adequate funding.
Our youth are a priority year round and we have a responsibility to ensure they have active summer breaks that provide more learning opportunities as well as fitness and cultural activities. It’s my belief that it always has and will continue to take a village to raise our children. And, what we do with them now will affect us for generations to come.
As District 4’s Commissioner, my action plan for youth will shore up new opportunities to stimulate and engage them with social entrepreneurial activities as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related activities. I’ll also work toward establishing a youth council that can work with our city commission to guide discussion on what our youth want and need.
To do this, I need your help. I welcome your ideas about how Pompano Beach can provide better resources for our youth. Click here to send me your ideas on how we can do better for our youth.
Let’s work together to be the “village” that raises our children the right way.
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