Eva M. Clayton: “today's youth are the future of this country. However, the children of this country today are faced with many more…”

“today's youth are the future of this country. However, the children of this country today are faced with many more difficult and dangerous situations than any previous generation. They are in need of strong guidance and leadership from adults in their community. America's Promise helps the children of America develop the skills they need in order to be the leaders of tomorrow. American Youth Day will provide an opportunity for citizens to recognize one specific day as a day to devote to the youth of this country. It will allow the communities to become aware of the "Five Promises" that America's Promise has made to our children. Each one of the "Five Promises" represents an essential way to assist the youth of this country. Children need to build strong relationships with caring adults in order to learn how to become caring adults themselves. They need places to go and things to do during nonschool hours so that they are not left alone without supervision. They deserve a healthy start and an equal opportunity for a prosperous future. They need the chance to learn the types of skills that they will need in the job market. And they need to learn the joy of giving back to the community through service. We must do all that we can to support the youth of this country. They need more than just the guidance of their parents. They need the support of their communities.”