If you are concerned about the success of our children in urban America, I am talking directly to you. We are all too aware of the numerous hurdles our children face when growing up in urban America. The time has come for us, as a community, to take responsibility and change the negative trajectory that too many of our students are on. We understand that without a degree or skills, success is often limited by the level of education, and regrettably, many urban students lack even a basic high school diploma. The question is, what is the solution?

We can’t change what is happening or not happening at the homes of these children, but we can change what and how we expose our children to life. If we take the time to expose our young children to positive activities such as plays, museums, libraries, professional people, businesses, colleges, churches, etc., we can instill in them a sense of hope and optimism for their future. The potential impact of these activities on their future is immense and promising.

Having worked in the urban education system for a number of years, I have seen firsthand how many students have been positively influenced by the activities I mentioned above. So, my question is, why aren't we doing more of these motivational activities with our children when we know they work? This is one of the reasons I wrote: "The Community's' Role in Motivating Urban Students Is Non—Negotiable.". It is truly non-negotiable: we urgently need to step up our game in urban America because our children need us.