1995-1996 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Alternatives: Proposals For Local Governments Struggling With Limited Resources 

Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

      1st Natalie Stevens        2nd Michelle Nelsen        3rd Chrissy Way

In 1995 the Harry Singer Foundation encouraged students to go into their neighborhoods, poll the residents, analyze the problems and come up with a viable community project. The results of that exercise are documented in the book titled, Alternatives: Proposals For Local Governments Struggling With Limited Resources, which, thanks to a reference in the February 1996 issue of Governing magazine, was distributed to many local governments across the country.

As Jennifer tells us

"Many people do not like change."
Jennifer Wetzel, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

Nicole expands the concern:

"Change is good, or so the saying goes. However, the road to successful change requires extensive planning and answers to important questions. Whom will the change affect? How will the change be received? What amount of additional time will be needed to make the change? The question of greatest concern to a large percentage of society is that of money. Who is going to fund the change? With the decreasing amounts of financial aid available from local governments, alternative resources need to be incorporated in order to allow the changing of society to be easier and more efficient.

In 1993, the Advanced Placement English class of Harrisburg High School organized a White Hats club as a class project. The White Hats organization consists of young adults benefiting younger under-privileged children by spending quality time with them. By spending time with these children, the White Hats club members provide an excellent example for our future. As the Advanced Placement class of 1995, we undertook the challenge of incorporating new ideas with old ideas through volunteer services to further the development of a better future for our community."
Nicole Nelson, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

Tara Jones explains how her school in southern Illinois has interpreted the White Hats program since 1993:

"This program, which has been extremely successful both in the high schools and in the grade schools in which the high school students have worked, incorporates a sort of Big Brother/ Big Sister idea. The high school members of the White Hats organization are assigned a child in the grade school who the teachers think may be a high risk for dropping out in the future. The high school student visits the child at least once a week and just spends time with him or her, the premise being to provide a sort of positive role model for that particular child."
Tara Jones, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

I've added three additional quotes to provide background:

"Harrisburg, a metropolis in the southern portion of Illinois was once a fairly prosperous coal town. With many mines closing down due to the high sulfur coal found in the area, much of the prosperity formerly enjoyed is now gone. Yet the town still exists with several citizens who are employed in various other fields. Harrisburg’s hey day may be over, and the money is not necessarily flowing in any more, so if there are any serious projects to be undertaken to preserve the beauty of this area, they must be undertaken by volunteers of the community. It seems that the State of Illinois is reluctant to spend its money to help us, so community beautification must become self-induced and self-funded.

So who volunteers and does the labor in this community beautification experiment? Children and high school students are good candidates for this undertaking. The White Hats club was founded in Harrisburg in 1992-93 under the premise of high school students helping grade school students who had various problems, be they family related or learning related. The goal was to give the students a positive role model, the high school student, while teaching them responsibility, helping their education, and instilling a love for the community through community service. While the club is alive and prospering today, one of the goals, the community service portion, has not been actively practiced. So, in order to beautify the community and its people as well, the White Hats club could extend itself a bit and include community service in its repertoire of activity."
Matt Businaro, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"The small town of Harrisburg has suffered greatly over the past few years. As more mines and businesses shut down so do various community services. Harrisburg lacks the money to hire people to provide these services, which is why it severely needs a volunteer program. The second hour AP English class has devised a program for the Harry Singer Essay Contest Alternatives topic. The program would be an extension of the White Hats organization. The extension is a drive for more community services to be performed in Harrisburg. The class conducted two polls to see what White Hats club members of our school and various community members thought of the proposal."
Alisha Logan, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"The future has finally caught up with this small community of about ten thousand. Most of the coal mines have left, and the others are soon to follow suit, leaving this community a hollow shell of its former self. The old buildings, which once were beautiful, have started falling apart becoming eye sores for the community. Trash has begun to build up along the sides of the roads, and the roads themselves have started to fall apart. How can we help this community to become beautiful once again? The answer is more community involvement which should start from the youngest child to the oldest senior in the community."
Michael Ward, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

Mike Eisenhauer, Chris Bevis and Chrissy Way relate problems which are unfortunately common to today's communities large and small:

"With financial cutbacks occurring in government there is less and less money for community projects. But, just because there is less money that does not mean community projects must dwindle."
Mike Eisenhauer, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"A recent government shutdown and inevitable cuts to balance the budget have left many people with questions of job security and economic stability. In a small rural town such as Harrisburg, which is already economically deprived, these cuts can be destructive and devastating. This leaves the question of how to make up for this loss of monetary funds. As young people, it is clearly our responsibility to help solve this problem."
Chris Bevis, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"In order to save money and stretch the resources of local government, an extension of the White Hats program has been proposed. The extension would provide community services which have, or might, come under the ax in the recent cutting of [public] funding."
Chrissy Way, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

Students started with polls. They polled members of their school White Hats club to determine the potential for volunteers and the level of enthusiasm for an extended program. Then they polled members of the community to determine the perceived priority of social problems:

"A poll conducted among 36 members of the White Hats organization concluded that 100 percent of them would definitely like to become involved in some sort of community service with their grade school children. If these members are willing to donate their time to this service, as they obviously are, then the program can become a successful joint school/community effort.

Some students also stated that they would enjoy working with a different age group, such as senior citizens. A second poll, conducted among various community members of Harrisburg, Illinois, showed support for this idea, as well. When asked if the community members would like to see more community service activities in Harrisburg, ninety-seven percent replied “yes.” These community members also had many ideas on what could be done in our area. The clean-up program suggested by some White Hats members was also suggested here. For example, one person spoke of asking the Harrisburg High School Art Club to paint unsightly walls or buildings uptown, and another suggested sidewalk repairs and a park clean-up program. Other ideas included work with the elderly, physically and mentally handicapped, and people with low or fixed incomes, or working with the homeless of southern Illinois in the form of soup kitchens and clothing and homeless shelters."
Tara Jones, Harrisbrug High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"The services that the people would like to see varied greatly. Helping the handicapped and elderly, starting a clean-up program, providing youth recreation, day-care facilities, recycling centers, and introducing Big Bother-Big Sister programs were the most suggested responses."
Alisha Logan, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"Vacant buildings could be repainted, restoring their former beauty, or White Hats participants along with the Art Club at HHS could design murals to be painted on the sides of buildings. A community member commented, 'Eyesores should be turned into places of interest.' Considering the many talented young adults attending HHS, this is a reasonable goal. Youth recreation is already a booming program in Harrisburg, especially with the many sports activities designed by the local park district. The problem is found in designing recreation for those students not involved in athletic activities. A fine arts program could be started at the grade school level offering interested students the chance to work with high school band members, artists, thespians, and choir participants. It would increase their knowledge and instill an appreciation for the arts while having fun. Senior citizens and the financially destitute could be aided by simple volunteer work such as frequent visits to nursing homes or working several hours a week at the above mentioned House of Hope."
Chrissy Way, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

They anticipated problems:

"Naturally, there were a few foreseeable problems in implementing this program. Funding, lack of student participation, weather, organization, and time were some of the limiting factors of this program. The club members, however, were willing to work with their grade school counterparts and also suggested we [incorporate] senior citizens into the efforts. Overwhelmingly, the students were willing to give up their free time, possibly scheduling tow or three hours a week for this program."
Matt Businaro, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"The community members thought there would be problems overcoming stereotypes, funding, finding facilities and volunteers. They thought organization and coordination would also be a problem, considering it would be the students’ responsibility."
Alisha Logan, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"Responses as to what difficulties the club would have implementing the ideas included commitment, organization, and communication. A majority of the thirty-six thought 2-3 hours or any additional free time could be devoted to the project every week. The White Hats members' interest in increased involvement was apparent, and the possibilities of the benefits that would be provided to the community were mind-boggling."
Chrissy Way, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"Perhaps the maintenance people at the parks would be out of a job if the high school and grade school students were to come there to clean up the grounds. However, in the light of future cuts in funding, this clean-up may be practical. The state would not be spending tax dollars on the park maintenance man’s job, yet his job would still be done. On the other side, that man may have a family at home to support. This family may depend on that state job for food and [living expenses.] Additionally, displaced workers are a problem that has to be faced with every new organization that does some service for free."
Tara Jones, Harrisbrug High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"In some instances community programs relieve the person who was trying to do these jobs by himself or herself but simply could not."
Michael Ward, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

But the desire for change was a compelling force:

"There is a need for community service projects in Harrisburg. Using the proposal mentioned, this need would be met. White Hats members and other volunteers from the community would carry out projects of service and beautification. These projects would touch the lives of every person in Harrisburg. It may be a simple enjoyment of flowers, or it may be a job that someone receives because of a new business, no matter what it is each person will reap the rewards. Harrisburg is ready, now it is time for action."
Mike Eisenhauer, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"This [and similar low cost] projects must be looked into in order to continue the forward progress of Southern Illinois."
Chris Bevis, Harrisbrug High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"Harrisburg, a once beautiful and prosperous town which has fallen from grace, may still be able to regain some of its past glory. White Hats, a grand program started by this same community, can once again rise to the occasion and conquer one of its oldest problems. With this extension of the White Hats program we could solve some of the minor problems of Harrisburg so that the city could solve the major ones. Bob Taylor a member of the community said, 'I think this city is ready for development.'"
Michael Ward, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

The rewards were sufficient:

"What would one gain by being in such a program? Besides the beautification of the community and the obvious rise in property value, it would be the feeling of well being and sense of accomplishments that the community members would have. Some people would say that they would miss out on time with their families, but members of the community could make this quality family time and could teach their kids how to respect the community. The program has really no disincentives to speak of."
Michael Ward, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"The reward will simply be knowing they helped someone or the community. A person that volunteers time, usually doesn’t need incentives to motivate him/her."
Alisha Logan, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"Incentives for carrying out this project are endless. Harrisburg could be beautified, the younger children of the grade schools could be exposed to even more positive activities, and elderly people could receive company they never expected."
Tara Jones, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"Beautifying Harrisburg, a place that could very easily become a ghost town, in the next several years, could quite possibly be a last ditch effort to save it from its doom. Harrisburg is ready to make itself beautiful, and its future, if it is to have a future, is ready to pitch in. This program could be very simple and inexpensive, or become very elaborate. It will, however, do two things: it will make Harrisburg a better place to live, and it will teach tomorrow’s generation to care for their surroundings. This proposition is a win-win program, that [may] help to return Harrisburg to its past glory."
Matt Businaro, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"By making the community better in appearance, it will not only improve the residents opinion of their community but also provide possible economic advantages."
Chris Bevis, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

The enthusiasm of youth is one of our nation's greatest assets:

"When provided with sound, as well as, overwhelming proof that a proposal of this nature is supported by both the White Hats members and the community, there is no way it could fail if put into action. There is a need for young adults to be more actively participating in the community, and this extension would be a stepping stone to more involvement by the entire town. Plus, with no workers being displaced in the already hard economic times hitting the Southern Illinois area, it would benefit everyone. The expansion is feasible and would set a new standard of community service in the areas as well as set a great example of what you can do for your community to those students at the grade school level."
Chrissy Way, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"The city of Harrisburg recently completed a bike trail. An old railroad bed was paved with concrete and formed into a bike trail. This community project turned an eyesore of Harrisburg into something everyone could use and benefit from. Not only did the bike trail make Harrisburg look better, but it also created jobs and brought in money to the local construction business."
Mike Eisenhauer, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

"Harrisburg is a reasonable location to start a community service program considering the recent success of the House of Hope. The emergency homeless shelter, started by concerned local Beth Monfort, has waged a continuous war against homelessness in the area. No one is allowed to stay for more than ten days since it is, as the name implies, an emergency shelter. While there, the individual or family is given nutritious meals, a warm bed, and medical care if required. They are also taken to a job placement office and put to work, which begins their quest for a more productive and comfortable life. The program is inevitably working considering it has, at this point, a 100% success rate. In fact, no one has been to the shelter twice. Beth Monfort believes the high rate of success is due to the fact that the shelter has no government funding but is solely run by a caring community members and the donations of local businesses. Just recently, a Thanksgiving dinner was held for the needy citizens of the area. All the food was donated and prepared by concerned families or businesses. She urges people, however, to recognize homelessness as a problem of all seasons, not just the holidays. This is a difficulty when dealing with southern Illinois since the homeless dilemma is not as apparent as in metropolitan area. Beth Monfort explains, 'Sometimes all they need to know is that someone cares.'"
Chrissy Way, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

Kids care. Communities have to start acknowledging this!

"Hopefully this program will help to incorporate the youth into the community."
Alisha Logan, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

I find that I am the impatient one. I have heard these same problems discussed for over fifty years I have written four books on the national debt and one in 1986 warning and making recommendations against the trouble facing the social security system–specifically Medicare. And the talk continues. While leaders talk kids grow up with the problems. They will be left with the burgeoning national debt after all the talkers are gone.

Although it seems strange that a teenager is wisely advocating moderation, Jennifer's comments below may be just what the burned-out members of older generations need to hear.

"Snails travel slowly, bearing their load carefully. They seem to make little progress as they journey along. If one looks closely, one sees the huge progress they make. By taking small steps, the snail changes its pathway. Change should be made this way, using small steps."
Jennifer Wetzel, Harrisbrug High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

And so we come full circle. We started with Jennifer's comment that people do not like change and end with Nicole's observation that:

"It seems that even the smallest change can reap great results."
Nicole Nelson, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg, Illinois

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