From The Directors
WE BELIEVE IN PEOPLE!!!
We believe in making investments in people, particularly young people. Each day, students leave their homes to endure the daunting, and often painful challenges of adolescence. As a veteran law enforcement and crime prevention officer who has spent more than 10 years in public school classrooms and conducting student assemblies, it is my experience that there is no mystery why drug and alcohol abuse is problematic among young people…drugs and alcohol cover pain!
Sometimes the pain comes from low self-esteem; the break up of a family; trouble from a bully; or just trying to measure up to the cultural standards set up by Hollywood, MTV and other elements of the “pop culture elite”. These often unachievable standards set up by today’s popular youth culture frequently overwhelm parents and can play a major role in the relationship struggles that they have with their children. In fact, the headline of a relatively recent article in USA Today declares that “Parents Feel They Are Failing to Teach Values”; and one of the main reasons for their struggle according to the article is that “Parents believe they are swimming upstream against a strong current of harmful messages to children”.
The pay-off we are enduring in America today for these harmful messages is staggering. A 1998 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that teen pregnancy posed a societal cost of $7 billion annually in lost tax revenue, public assistance, child health care, foster care and involvement with the criminal justice system; and a 1999 U.S. Justice Department report put the cost to society of alcohol use by underage youth in 1996 at $52.8 billion (violent crime, suicide, traffic crashes). In addition, a 2001 report by The Lewin Group for The Office of National Drug Control Policy estimated the societal cost of illegal drug abuse in 1998 at $143.4 billion (criminal justice system, health care, lost productivity).
Young people are struggling to find meaning and purpose. They are desperately searching for someone who hears their cry and relates to their pain. Popular youth culture is often the only ear that is listening. Young people are easily enamored by the pop artist or actor who shares in their seemingly own private pain. Right or wrong, today’s struggling, vulnerable teen identifies with popular youth culture, which often meets them right in their pain.
At the American Center for Character and Cultural Education (ACE), we are dedicated to meeting young people “right where they are” by keeping our finger on the pulse of popular youth culture so that we can better understand the students, parents, educators, schools and communities we have the privilege to serve. We want to meet students and their families in the midst of their struggles; and offer them encouragement, information, understanding, hope and tools to help them successfully labor together through the complex twists and turns of adolescence.
Students who attain a healthy self-image and possess strong critical thinking, communication and interpersonal relationship skills will make more informed life decisions. They will be more likely to model the admirable character qualities of integrity, respect and perseverance; and less likely to make destructive life decisions. They will also become more productive members of society, and greater contributors to the businesses, institutions and communities that they serve as adults.
Our goal is simple, but not easy. Our schools are the largest captive audience of young people in the country. We envision reaching every school district in America and partnering with other organizations to effect positive and permanent change in our schools and communities.
When you help us to accomplish that goal, everyone benefits. With your support, the seed that is planted and nourished today becomes valuable fruit tomorrow.