Research shows that the American Dream is moving out of reach for kids across the country. Many kids will not break out of the cycle of poverty because the gap between opportunity and their reality is just too wide. Southwest Initiative Foundation is taking a “cradle to career” approach to helping low income and new immigrant children thrive in our rural communities. We are launching this work with a Grow Our Own Summit December 15th in Marshall. The Summits is an opportunity for all of us to begin a regional conversation about the gap kids face here in southwest Minnesota.
Research also shows that Minnesota is the best place in the country for kids to grow up—with access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, many two parent households, strong support systems and more. We are starting this work from a position of strength.
Robert Putnam’s latest book, Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis has served as the background for our plan, and we are bringing him to Southwest Minnesota State University for a full day of learning and engagement. Along with Putnam we have put together a stellar line-up of presenters and panelists to help us understand what the opportunity gap looks like in our region. We would be thrilled to have you join us and ask that you share this information with anyone that you think might be interested in attending.
Did you know:
- For the region as a whole, 15.4 percent or 9,982 kids between the ages of birth and 17 are living in poverty
- Even more alarming, 21 percent or 4,499 of our kids are living in poverty before they get to kindergarten
- Just 64.2 percent of students of color are graduating on time, compared to 89.4 percent of white students
Nearly one-third of our population is projected to be over the age of 65 by 2030, up from 20 percent in 2015. While many in rural America are talking about attracting people to rural communities, we believe we will be better served to grow our own. In order to do so we need to connect the kids to the opportunities right here. We hope you will join us and we welcome your feedback as we launch this new approach to our work!
To register for the summit or to learn more click here.
