Lane County on track to being prime place for kids to succeed.

Byline: BUILDING YOUTH ASSETS By Craig Smith The Register-Guard

There I was, at Hayward Field during the Road to Eugene '08 track meet, getting caught up in the most exciting race of the evening. Two runners had separated themselves from the pack, matching strides as they rounded the Bowerman curve. The track-savvy crowd knew it was a special race, and the cheers grew louder.

Encouraged by the response, the two racers strained down the home stretch, arms pumping, necks stretching forward and eyes glued to the finish line. They were separated by only a stride as the crowd, roaring its approval, began standing, stomping and screaming, knowing that the two competitors were giving every ounce of energy they had. As the athletes crossed the finish line, the crowd continued its roaring ovation, acknowledging both runners' great efforts.

I gave a high-five to the person sitting next to me. We both beamed in appreciation. It was a great race, the best performance of the night. I was truly impressed by those two 5-year-olds' effort.

Yes, they were two 5-year-olds from among 30 or so who ran in the `Kids' Half-Lapper."

As it turned out, it was indeed the best race of the night - a night when 6,000 fans came to watch professional track athletes woo us with their speed, strength and agility. It was a night when our local youth ended up wooing us, and another day when Lane County created an asset-rich environment for our youth. I was impressed.

A year ago, a group of folks from various organizations around Lane County began writing a series of columns in this space identifying how each of us are champions of building assets in each other and for our youth.

We came together around the concept of developing youth assets - a concept articulated by the Search Institute of Minneapolis. The concept is simple: Young people grow to become competent, confident, compassionate and healthy adults if they possess assets in their lives. These assets can be developed from within, with the encouragement of families, churches, schools and others. Or assets can be provided to young people by others in their communities. Whether internal or external, the more assets a young person has, the greater his or her chances of success become.

In the first column last year, I wrote: `Let's challenge ourselves to be a community that is focused on the success of our youth, and let's take the responsibility of wanting to be part of that success.'

Subsequent columns detailed the variety of ways in which asset-building is taking place in our community.

Our local libraries are bringing in dogs to help children learn to read. Why? Because children find that reading to a dog is less intimidating, creates a unique time of one-on-one attention that is fun, and helps transform a formerly dreaded experience into a rewarding interaction.

That's Asset No. 22, school engagement - ensuring that young people are actively engaged in learning.

Schools in Lane County work to provide positive behavior support, to create safe and respectful school climates, and to inspire connectivity among adults and students.

That's Asset No. 24, bonding to school - when young people care about their schools, they gain an asset for success.

The state Department of Youth Services and the Juvenile Circuit Court judge provide strengths-based programs to help young people on the path to health and well being. Here is an example of how the judge helps parents see their children as assets, instead of deficits: After hearing a father complain about his two sons for a lengthy period of time, the judge asked him to take a minute and generate three lists - one for each of his children, and one for himself. Each list had to contain 10 strengths. Then the judge said, `Given these 30 strengths, how will you apply them to solve these current and future problems?'

The judge was providing the father with Asset No. 2, positive family communication.

A Lane County church started a program called "Back a Kid." Members made a list of all of their youth and their activities in school and in the community. The congregation made a commitment to attend an activity in which the young people were participating and encourage them.

Asset No. 4 is a caring neighborhood, and the church created one by enlarging the circle of people interested in young people's activities.

Planned Parenthood Health Services of Southwestern Oregon formed a youth advisory and advocacy council from high schools in Lane County. The members promote communication between young people and adults around issues of healthy sexuality.

Asset No. 37, personal power, is strengthened when young people feel they have control over things that happen to them.

A mother offers assets to her son by being intentional in her support of him and other people who touch their lives. This helps her to recognize it is her job, as well as the job of every adult, to help young people to be caring, competent, confident members of our community.

That's Asset No. 3, other adult relationships - young people need the support of adults who are not their parents.

4H uses assets to help us young people develop friendships, learn responsibility, become empowed, achieve success and learn organization. They are important in helping to develop caring, competent and confident members of our community.

Such programs help provide young people with Asset No. 39, a sense of purpose.

Residents of Lane County, we are an asset-rich community. Let's recognize it, applaud it, and continue to become richer in our asset development.

This yearlong series of articles is ending, but our asset-building is just beginning. Asset development is not just a phase in a master plan. Let's link our strengths together - speak the asset language, and walk our talk. We should aspire to be an awesome place to raise our children.

What we really need is for all of us to stand up and cheer the effort of our young people, pat a boy or girl on the back for making a tough decision, take the time to play a game of horse, applaud a young person who admits a mistake and wants to get back on track, set a clear boundary to help a kid stay on track, appreciate a well-done rap performance, invite a pink-haired girl to a Red Hat outing, and simply take a moment or two to just listen.

Why not identify ourselves as Lane County, the greatest place in the world to build youth assets?

Think two years from now: June of 2008, the Olympic Trials, national television coverage on ESPN, the nation is watching as they line up the 5-year-olds for the `Kids' Half Lapper' and the 15,000 spectators are already on their feet - cheering! Let's keep our assets rolling.

Craig Smith works for the city of Eugene's Recreation Division as a program manager for Petersen Barn Community Center & the River House Outdoor Program. This is the 26th in a series of biweekly columns about developing young people's assets.