OCTOBER 10 -16,1984 THE CITIZEN PAGE NINE ead • e e a •• • • By ImI Green Start with a imple idea, dd a dash of imagination, tir in a measure of dedicat­ ion, pour in community involvement., That's the recipe for one of the most uccessful programs ever created. The mixture is called Head Start and few program have earned, or de erved, more praise and recognition. The Head Sta Program which is no beginning its twentieth year, was launched in 1965. It is a federally funded comprehensive develop­ mental pre-school program. Head Start's purpose is to adi 3-5 year oids and their familie to. achieve their fulle t po­ tential. The uskegon Oceana Com­ munity Action Against Poverty Inc., adminsters funds for fourteen centers in Mu egon and Oceana Counties. They re located in Egleston, Fruit­ port, u kegon, M egon Height , R venn , Reeths Puf- phy ical, mental, social and emotional growth. Som example of these are: coo­ ing activities, field trips num­ b r grarnes, If-help kills, involvement in the art , lan­ guage and speech ctivi ie . The curriculum. al 0 develop activities to educate children to th cultural characteristics and ethnic dif! ferences of various people, pl ces, and communities. But Head Start is also more than the things. It is atch­ in the genuine glow in a child's eye as he or she dis­ co r the world around them; th fruit of independence you rt to growing in a youn ,life; the tounding . zation th t th "thing H n e • eryd y have name; th rtfelt pride demon- tr t d in 'feat" ccompli h­ d: tunc nditional tolerance d pt e of their fellow- i1dren innocently d th abundant with the unlearned. irrepl ceabl nuggets of ld re I 0 what Heat Start about. Muskegon and Oc an oun- tie. She i marri d to rritt Lene r and re id t 10 3 William Street in the city of M eon. th mother of four daugh er and God-children. Mr. Lene r has or ed in the Head Start program for a period of thirteen year. She is former Head Start parent who has had three of er five children in atten­ dance in the program. She started in Head Start as a volunteer then was hired as Parent Coordinator. She work­ ed in' this position for three years and was then promoted to Head Start Director. Some of Mrs. Lenear's other accomplishments are as follows: She as chairperson of the State Head Start Dire­ ctors Association for three years; ational Head Start Representative for the State of Michigan; currently repre- ntative-at-Iarge for the Head ciation: t t IRE EGREEN 'pre Ie cl ly fer, Holton, Walkerville, and Shelby. There are two dele­ gate agencies in the Mu egon Public School system and the Whitehall School district. Locally, the dynamic wo­ man who heads the Head Start program is Maxine Lenear. She effectively leads a large, competent staff that renders services to children and their families' throughout experiences in the hom There are al opportuniti fora group experience for the children on regular b is. All experiences and activi­ ties are geared to promote th W 0 political proc ... �� volv th Discu one at dinner each night. ead the T e part in eeti . Help youths to understand your local government. Schools board and local units of government old meetings. Take young people to part of a meeting if an issue that they can relate to i being discussed (changes in school rules, bike path , building a teen center or pool, etc.). Write lette . When your child feels strongly about an issue and has had a chance to think out and talk out his-her po itlon, encourage and facili­ tate his-her writing a letter to the appropriate official. Help the child to understand that one letter will not effect the desired change, but that our elected official need to hear from all of us. Today' children will become more cti e and involved citizens adults if they tart learning no about the political process and ho to affect it. Parents should not depend on an occasional school citizen­ ship cl to develop the neces­ sary awareness and confidence.­ Building that awareness is a long proces. Here are orne ways famille can interact together to foster interest and a sen of responsibility and po ibility for citizen involvement. T ut·. Elemen- t ry- ge children and teen can become intensely intere ted in u that may affect their future or that deal ith dis- crimination and . industice. State your own opinion but lso try to explain the vie s of the opposing ide. Encourage them to que tion why people behave in certain ways. U cartoo. Political car- toon from magazines and news­ papers are an excellent tarting point for discussion with junior high and high school students. Briggs fight strok_ children will benefit from read­ ing the newspaper and listening to new programs. Follow-up discussion is very important. Camp . . vol ment. If you are involved· in any kind of campaign (on an issue or supporting a 'candidate), let your child also play an active role. School-age children can do an excellent job of helping to distribute leaflets and stuff en­ velopes. It will help them feel that they have played a signi­ ficant part. Group invoJ ement. If you are working with any kind of youth group, incorporate infor­ mation about the governmental proce. Thi is particularly important at election time. Groups such the League of Women Voters have some quiz­ zes, skits and demonstrations that could be· useful. Check with your C unty Extension office for 4-H citizenship material . '7be Lord h old, . t Cora Bri our community. lie' in the I.C.U. at H are for don io to help him and hl fam out," the committee '. CHARLES BRIGGS LET US TACKLE ALL YOUR PARTY fEDS We carryall the brands you're looking for in liquor, liquers, wines, beer, domestic and im­ ports. We have all your party needs - mixes, appetizers, napkins ... from chips to caviar, Champion is your Party Store. EDELL N. DAVIS, JR. 1186 FifTH STREET MUSKEGON.MI49440 ATIORNEY AT LAW TY STO 733- 9 9 LI 61 E. CE TER ST. Muskegon Hts. (ACROSS FRO HEIGHTS CITY HAI-L) GENERAl PRACTITIONER 8AN