[TGE-mail] September Neighborhood Association column

[Jeanette Mott Oxford]

Now Is The Time To Surround Our Schools With Care:
"We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For"

On Aug. 20 I issued an affectionate challenge to the state
representatives and senators of the City delegation to see which of us
could do the most to bring volunteers and resources into St. Louis Public
Schools in the 2007-08 school year. I am calling the campaign
"Surrounding Our Schools with Care" (SOS Care), and the kick-off
announcement was made at a press conference at Shepard e-Mints Academy,
3450 Wisconsin.

I am challenging myself and my House and Senate colleagues to do more to:

MOTIVATE – be a guest speaker and role model at schools and invite others
to do so as well.

COMMUNICATE - announce volunteer opportunities and school needs at
meetings with neighborhood associations and area businesses, in
newsletters, on websites, etc. 

CELEBRATE – honor students and staff for special achievements and help
spread the good news of the many successes that occur within SLPS.

LEGISLATE - co-sponsor legislation to lift families out of poverty and to
ensure that SLPS students have access to post-secondary education.

"MATCHMATE" - act as a matchmaker between our schools and those who are
able to provide needed supports identified by each school.

Rep. Rachel Storch and Rep. Jamilah Nasheed are among City delegation
members already accepting the challenge. At the press conference, Rep.
Storch said, "It has enriched my life to act as a mentor at Adams School.
I appreciate Rep. Oxford’s leadership in issuing this challenge, and I
will be glad to help my constituents know where their efforts can make an
important difference in the life of a child."

Shepard e-Mints Academy Task Force has a successful model for how to
surround a school with care. At the press conference Tom Brady, President
and Founder of Equity Financial Services and Chairman of the Shepard
e-Mints Academy Community Task Force, announced that the group had
reached its Phase I fundraising goal for the playground equipment that
Shepard has long needed. He presented more than $10,000 in checks to
Principal Carol Hall-Whittier. Task force members have also offered many
other supports for Shepard students including a holiday toy drive, an end
of school picnic, and a Reading Partners program.

I believe a high quality public education should be a civil right for
every child. There is a wonderful song by a cappella group Sweet Honey in
the Rock. It says "We are the ones we’ve been waiting for." I truly
believe the resources to build a truly great school system are already
right here in our community. We just have to identify needs and organize
to respond effectively. Now is the time! Let’s get busy!

Jeanette Mott Oxford
State Representative - 59th MO House District
314-771-8882 (home); 314-775-8940 (cell)
2910 Lemp, St. Louis, MO 63118
www.jmo4rep.com
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