Pop Quiz: In the capital of the greatest nation in the history of the world, where presidents, senators and Whitney Houston alike proclaim that children are our future, how do you think things are going for teens?
Good? Great? Who cares?
Sadly, the latter is closest to the truth.
In the summer of 2006, DC Campaign conducted its first ever online survey, "Express Yourself!", to hear from people in the city about what DC teens need. To sum it up, a lot. 75 percent of the almost 200 respondents said that life for DC teens was either "poor" or "very poor", and 87 percent said that the DC government is not doing enough for teens.
Hmm.....
This got us thinking. Why not conduct a survey that never ends? What could we do with a constant stream of public opinion, ideas and recommendations? Maybe further our mission improving the lives and well being of adolescent citizens?
Web logs, or blogs for short, have turned media on its head, featuring endless opportunities for people to say what's on their minds.
DC Campaign will use its blog to change the conversation about DC teens in a whole new way. Check our blog for facts, figures, new information on DC teens and what DC teens are saying. It's your chance to join an open forum on teen issues. If you have a common sense idea for an after school program, a 14-point youth plan, or an opinion on someone else's, you can be part of the discussion.
Within the next few months, there will be new voices leading the government. Our first question to you is: if you could write a youth policy for the new administration, what would it include? Tell us what programs and services DC teens need.
The floor is now yours.
For more information, visit our website at
www.teenpregnancydc.org
