Partnerships help youth find their way Michael McCarthy Contributing Columnist JEFF Thoms holds the knife carefully in his hands. “You turn it like this,” he says “and out comes this.” Thoms is a highly ener- getic young man who is busy turning his life around thanks to a few key members of a North Shore community partnership. Now a protes- sional carver, Thoms was recently paroled from prison on an aggravated assault charge toa halfway house. “Tr’s all about artitude,” explains Thoms, when asked about the turnaround in his life. “Two or three months ago [ felt like killing myself or going back to jail, but now I’m starting to get a business off the ground and I just bought a computer. My last carving sold for $240.” Free on Parole, Thoms was directed to David Foster of the North Shore Harvest Project. The Harvest, a non-profit alternative to the welfare sys- tem, has an interesting motto: “Breaking the welfare evcle.” Thoms doesn’t want to live on the dole. “Ehad a tough time re- integrating back into society and volunteering at The Harvest four or five days a week really helped me get started.” The Harvest exemplifies a radical approach towards transforming, welfare, and challenges one of Canada’s most enduring myths: that the key to fighting poverty lies in finding the right for- mula and rate for govern- ment expenditures. The key to creating change in communities, say Certified Financial Planner leaders like Foster, begins with a willingness to change our own lives. No amount of financial assistance will pro- vide role models for youth, or a skill that builds pride and self-esteem. Oaly people “The key to creating change in communities ... begins with a will- ingness to change our own lives.” giving of themselves, their time and their skills can do that. In his brilliant book on the transformation of the welfare state, Revolution of the Heart, non-profit radical Bill Shore writes: “Rebuilding community does not require legislation, more government handouts, or tax credits to business. It requires a new way of thinking about our responsibility as citizens and a willingness to learn the language of community.” Above all, breaking the welfare mentality tor our young people requires new community partnerships to be built — nor benween bureaucrats and social work- ers — but benveen local agencies, like the Harvest Mare Latta tnvestment Consultant “Knowing the questiors can sometimes be more important than knowing the answers.” Because of my age, | must change my RRSP to a RRIF before December 31, 1997. How can | maximize my income and minimize my taxes. 1. Look at the income tax payable on money notcurrently in a RRIF or RRSP. 2. Seek advice in structuring this portion of your income (some methods suggested: (a) have GIC’s and T-bills in RRIF or RRSP (b) have dividend funds and capital gains outside RRIF or RRSP). fot fursher information, call Roger Latta & Company Ltd. IR Phone: 983-2235 Fax: 98° ~ “ss and socially responsible groups and businesses. One such business is Sussex Realty, which has qui- etly adupted Foster's vision. “We support the Harvest because we want the money we raise to stay in our com- munity,” explains realtor Elizabeth Broadfoot, who has led an initiative to tithe a percentage of agents’ profits to the Harvest Project. “Whar Sussex is doing might be good for business, sure, but to me the fact that they are doing it, PERIOD, is all that counts, because it's so rare,” says Thoms. “It’s ironic, you know, because | was sent up for stabbing a guy, but Pve learned to respect what a knife is for.” And to respect himself. With the realization thar government can’t do it all comes the hope that — with the right direction and inspi- ration —- young people can do it for themselves. With more kids on the dole than at any time in our history, community partnerships are an exciting model for all to follow. ~—- Michael McCarthy is a North Vancouver writer. The North Shore News reg- ularly allocates space for read- er input on a wide range of community issues in the form of anest columns, Ifyou have a column please send it c/o The Editor, North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, V7M 24 or via e-mail to trenshaw@direct.ca. Submissions must be typewrit- ten and showsld be approxt- mately 500 words. if Educationally Speaking... Calculate This § Parents can assure themselves their children are acquiring proficient math skills when chese students demonstrate that they can play with numbers, feel confident to take risks to solve problems. are guod guessers and learn from their mistakes. ‘To be prepared for the challenge of high school math, elementary: school students need to fully grasp the concepts underlying multiplication, division, decimals, fractions, factoring, percentages and ratios, and be able to apply them, with confidence, to a wide range of problems. Math instruction at a Syivan Learning Centre tunes into individual learning styles. It offers frequent exposure to problem solving dialogue, exploration and tisk taking, It encourages students to envision correct answers by estimating. It also provides student’ with the opportunity to detect and learn from their errors. Call a Sylvan Centre for a free copy of: Math Anxiety? No Problem! North Van 985-681) West Van 926-3365 Sunday, November 16, 1997 — North Shore News — 9 Cyclist’s story a shocker Dear Editor: I was shocked to read of the attack upon the cyclist on the Lions Gate Bridge by nwo workers (Oct. 17 News). I am also a cyclist: who commutes daily to and from work by bicycle, and though £ no longer commute over the Lions Gate Bridge I have done so in the past. | find an event like this incredibly unsettling. As a cyclist you put a great deal of trust and faith in car drivers, First of all, I find the comments, as quoted by Ministry of Transportation spokesmen, outrageous. It is akin to pointing out that the victim in an attempt- ed murder should not have been walking in the dark. This isn’t the point. These workers nearly killed this man! Anyone who has walked or cycled over that bridge is all too aware of how precarious it is. There is basically no pro- tection or vestige of safety. Every time a bus comes by the force of wind almost pulls one into the traffic. Not only should these “workers” end up in jail, but this incident should force the government to deal with the inadequate safety on that iBuy 1 chicken pot pie ! for $5.95 and get 1 ie BAKED OR UNBAKED Approx. 1.5 tbs. in size Westlynn Bakery [1109 LYAN VALLEY RO. LYNN VALLEY CENTRE The ultimate family vehicle, fully equipped including air conditioning, V6 engine, dual Sliding doors and much more for only ... B oe Best Service 985-1622 _ bridge for cyclists and pedes- trians. We continuously read in the news about the problems with too much traffic. Where is the support for commuters who try to make a difference by leaving their car at home? Certainly not com- ing from the Ministry of Transportation if these com- ments are an indication. And if these words and actions represent the senti- ment of the public, then God help every cyclist who dares go out on the road. Randy Burke North Vancouver bluewater@mindlink.bc.ca Offer vatid Now 13: Nov. 19/97 Ee @ Royai Insurance Our expertise is your best policy” $269 no: | eee orn 7 Chrysler's discount superstore om * Lease based ‘on 30 month term with $2,700 down or equivalent trade O.A.C. TP $10,7708 Sub verted lease i in lieu of RDA.