Cultural Diversity, Program Needs Focus Of 'Plunge'
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
With the theme "Northern Communities," Thursday's 1997 Community Plunge focused on programs in Milford, North Webster and Syracuse.
The bus tour, sponsored by Kosciusko Community Hospital, emphasized the county's growing cultural diversity and the need for programs and facilities that deal with children and families.
This year's Plunge, following the success of the 1996 premier effort, included 50 community, business and government leaders. The goal was simply to make people aware of issues and programs that deserve attention or recognition.
"You are participating because you are the decision-makers in our community," said organizer Sandy Rader.
Kosciusko County's growing Hispanic community was spotlighted with a visit to Our Lady of Guadelupe Catholic Church in Milford. Speakers Joe Banks, Kara McClure and Axa Carvajal described the need to "build a multicultural community," to accept other cultures and languages, and to reach out to others.
A fear of the unknown is often what keeps cultures from accepting each other, Carvajal said. "If you take the time to climb that barrier that is language, you'll see that people are alike," she said.
Banks challenged the participants to actively fight prejudice and "build a community" in this area. Citing personal experiences with bigotry and racism, he said: "I assure you that the wicked voices in Kosciusko County are not silent."
Father Paul Beuter told the participants that many of his parishioners want to learn English "even just to get along," but it is difficult to find someone to teach them. He also said that the county needs people who can connect with the Hispanic population and help them become a part of the community.
Connections and community also were key words at the bus's next stop: Teen Parents Succeeding, in Syracuse.
An innovative program, and the only community-sponsored program of its kind in the United States, TPS provides free care for children of middle school and high school students so the students can finish their education.
In return, the students, mostly mothers, besides attending school must attend a support group that introduces them to such topics as infant nutrition, parenting skills, budgeting, etc.
Jackie Plickard, who began and directs the program, said that in the six years the program has operated, 56 teens have been able to attend school; only two have dropped out of the program.
The facility can care for up to 12 babies and toddlers at one time. One caregiver is paid, the rest are volunteers, Plickard said.
One negative comment often received is that the program encourages teen pregnancies, Plickard said, and in the sense that it discourages girls from getting abortions, that is true.
However, in the last six years, the number of pregnancies has not gone up, she said, and of all 56 girls, none have had a second pregnancy.
The last stop, and the most fun for participants, was North Webster Day Care, where participants were met by the children bearing flowers and hand-colored pictures.
The center cares for 61 day care children and 30 latchkey kids in a program that includes children between the ages of 2 and 12, said director Tricia Willard.
Quality, affordable day care is badly needed in the county and is not always readily available, Rader said. North Webster, Syracuse and Milford have community day care centers; Warsaw does not.
Suzie Light, executive director of the Kosciusko County Foundation, told the busload of people that the Indiana Child Care Fund is making more than $3 million available to communities with child care plans in place.
The Foundation is serving as facilitator for developing a child care plan for Kosciusko County and for making the public aware of child care needs (such as second- or third-shift child care and sick child care) in the area. Anyone interested in working on the plan should contact Light at the Foundation office. [[In-content Ad]]
With the theme "Northern Communities," Thursday's 1997 Community Plunge focused on programs in Milford, North Webster and Syracuse.
The bus tour, sponsored by Kosciusko Community Hospital, emphasized the county's growing cultural diversity and the need for programs and facilities that deal with children and families.
This year's Plunge, following the success of the 1996 premier effort, included 50 community, business and government leaders. The goal was simply to make people aware of issues and programs that deserve attention or recognition.
"You are participating because you are the decision-makers in our community," said organizer Sandy Rader.
Kosciusko County's growing Hispanic community was spotlighted with a visit to Our Lady of Guadelupe Catholic Church in Milford. Speakers Joe Banks, Kara McClure and Axa Carvajal described the need to "build a multicultural community," to accept other cultures and languages, and to reach out to others.
A fear of the unknown is often what keeps cultures from accepting each other, Carvajal said. "If you take the time to climb that barrier that is language, you'll see that people are alike," she said.
Banks challenged the participants to actively fight prejudice and "build a community" in this area. Citing personal experiences with bigotry and racism, he said: "I assure you that the wicked voices in Kosciusko County are not silent."
Father Paul Beuter told the participants that many of his parishioners want to learn English "even just to get along," but it is difficult to find someone to teach them. He also said that the county needs people who can connect with the Hispanic population and help them become a part of the community.
Connections and community also were key words at the bus's next stop: Teen Parents Succeeding, in Syracuse.
An innovative program, and the only community-sponsored program of its kind in the United States, TPS provides free care for children of middle school and high school students so the students can finish their education.
In return, the students, mostly mothers, besides attending school must attend a support group that introduces them to such topics as infant nutrition, parenting skills, budgeting, etc.
Jackie Plickard, who began and directs the program, said that in the six years the program has operated, 56 teens have been able to attend school; only two have dropped out of the program.
The facility can care for up to 12 babies and toddlers at one time. One caregiver is paid, the rest are volunteers, Plickard said.
One negative comment often received is that the program encourages teen pregnancies, Plickard said, and in the sense that it discourages girls from getting abortions, that is true.
However, in the last six years, the number of pregnancies has not gone up, she said, and of all 56 girls, none have had a second pregnancy.
The last stop, and the most fun for participants, was North Webster Day Care, where participants were met by the children bearing flowers and hand-colored pictures.
The center cares for 61 day care children and 30 latchkey kids in a program that includes children between the ages of 2 and 12, said director Tricia Willard.
Quality, affordable day care is badly needed in the county and is not always readily available, Rader said. North Webster, Syracuse and Milford have community day care centers; Warsaw does not.
Suzie Light, executive director of the Kosciusko County Foundation, told the busload of people that the Indiana Child Care Fund is making more than $3 million available to communities with child care plans in place.
The Foundation is serving as facilitator for developing a child care plan for Kosciusko County and for making the public aware of child care needs (such as second- or third-shift child care and sick child care) in the area. Anyone interested in working on the plan should contact Light at the Foundation office. [[In-content Ad]]