Where are our children going?

The children of Marion County are our promise, our potential for the future, as well as an asset today.  Any parent or concerned adult in our communities knows that we also make a promise to our children, that they have the right to expect certain things from those they look up to.

From the President's Summit last April to the Governor's Summit for West Virginia's future in Charleston last October, there was a general agreement that there are five implicit promises we make to our children.  A group from Marion County is looking at those promises as they relate to our local needs.

In an attempt to serve those local needs, Marion County's Promise is spearheading programs to inform Marion County residents about the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and to create a mentoring program that we are calling It Takes Two.

Our Five Main Promises

Mentor -- An ongoing relationship with a caring adult
Protect -- Safe places to learn and grow
Teach -- Marketable skills through effective education
Nurture-- A healthy start
Serve -- An opportunity to give back

Who are we?

General Colin Powell chaired the summit on America's Promise last April in Philadelphia at the request of Bill Clinton.  Delegations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia attended, and agreed that a national priority was need on increasing volunteer involvement with children & youth.

The five fundamental resources for children and youth were enthusiastically affirmed by WV First Lady Hovah Underwood, who led our state delegation.  They carried this outline for action back home as The Governor's Summit for West Virginia's future, and the Marion County group is now organizing Marion County's Promise.

We are parents, elected officials, volunteer workers, car pool drivers, den leaders, teachers, pastors, professionals, baby sitters and elder care providers; we are your friends, neighbors and family members -- we are you!  Come join us…

Join us!

To join us, please contact Pam Nolan or Linda O'Connor by mail or e-mail to the addresses listed below or by phone at the phone number listed below.  Become a member of Marion County's Promise to help fulfill the promise to our children and the promise to our future.

To access the America's Promise website follow the following hyperlink:

americaspromise.org