Week 11: News Article - Danielle I.

http://www.austinweeklynews.com/News/Articles/3-28-2014/$500K-in-state-funding-coming-to-Austin-community-groups/

This article discusses how the Westside Branch NAACP and the Westside Health Authority in Austin, IL are planning to spend $500,000 they were appropriated, but did not ask for.  State representative, LaShawn Ford applied for the money unbeknownst to the two groups.

            The director of the branch of the NAACP in question said that the money will be allocated towards the ACT-SO program that helps high-school students.  The aim of this program is to recruit adult and student mentors for students in the community to help foster knowledge.  One of the activities yearly is a competition similar to a Quizbowl in which students get the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge they have gained.

            This type of program seems like it would be useful in Lemay as it allows students to learn in a constructive, while slightly competitive, environment and allows adults and other students in the community to help foster knowledge in others.  Furthermore, it helps the students in the community learn by example.

Ford was quoted as saying, "Some individuals believe we should stop spending and pay down our bills, but our communities are hurting. We should spend money where it's needed," Ford said. "We have to empower the West Side, especially our kids. We need to broaden the net and bring in more youth, and strengthen those programs that already exist.” 

This article was relevant to our classwork as it depicts a struggling community.  However, it was particularly relevant to my work in Lemay as it shows groups getting an influx of money and the process of determining how to appropriately spend it.  This is somewhat comparable to Lemay’s influx of dollars after the casino was built.

Ford also said, "Austin is struggling with the schools closing.  There's a lack of a YMCA and a lack of programs for kids to go to college and better themselves. In Austin, the kids are at-risk and we have to do something to keep them from becoming at-risk."  Again, this is relevant to much of our work in the community as there are many at-risk youth in all of the communities involved.  Ford aspires to provide resources for these youth.

            How do you think a program similar to the ACT-SO program would help your communities?  If you were in charge of allocating funds in your communities, which groups would you allocate funds to?  How do you think funds in your community would be best spent?  Do you think this is too much power for one or two individuals to have?