BE A MENTOR
Help a young person, help a community
As the CEO and president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities, I know that now, more than ever, the young people in our communities need us to reach down in order to lift them up -- to celebrate their development and to brighten their future. All young people need someone to encourage them to dream big, and in these tough times, we need to do even more.
The good news is ours is a movement with a role for all citizens. There are many ways to support what our movement achieves -- results that make a real difference in young people's lives, increasing the chances that they will succeed in school, solve problems without violent behavior and avoid engaging in illegal activities. In addition to those who get involved as Big Brothers and Big Sisters (mentors), the movement also includes corporate partners, event volunteers, professional advisers, private donors, board members and others willing to do what they can to provide support.
Next month is National Mentoring Month, and we invite you to join our movement. You can do so by simply recognizing a citizen you know who is helping children increase their sense of confidence, competence and caring. Go to Big BrothersBigSisters.org and give a local unsung hero an opportunity to be recognized nationally by nominating him or her for the Big Citizen of the Year Award. This honor recognizes that helping children make good choices takes family members, teachers, religious leaders, coaches, neighbors and so many others who want to help our children grow up in America. While nominating your favorite Big Citizen, you also will be able to select from a number of ways that you can do your part to make a difference and encourage others to do what they can as well.
You can make a big difference in our community by helping us to provide hope and friendship to young people across the Twin Cities. We can't easily change the world children grow up in, but we can work together to change the way the young people in our community see their world and how they interact with it. Today, you can be the force of change our children have been waiting for.
GLORIA LEWIS, ST. PAUL
DAYTON ON TAXES
How does he define 'lower' taxes on rich?
Mark Dayton says our roads and schools are drastically hurt by lowering the state taxes on the rich ("Fixing Minnesota [miracle not required])," Dec. 15).
The only state tax that has been lowered in the last 20 years is the income tax, which has gone down a whopping 65/100ths of a percent. A mere $6.50 on $1,000. Almost nothing.
The problem is taxes are too high. Minnesota has relatively high tax rates and no capital gains benefit. As a result, a huge number of wealthy Minnesotans move to a lower-tax state like Florida or Arizona. Often this is just before they sell something -- their company, for example -- realizing a large capital gain. As a result, instead of receiving a high tax, Minnesota gets nothing.