MPR: The Future of Small Towns: Idea Generator: Idea detail and comments

Categories : People : Economic opportunity : Human services : Telecommunications : Transportation : Social/cultural opportunities : Education : Government & policy : Other

Idea for: Human services

Put early childhood centers in vacant main street buildings
Familes with young children need places to go. They often feel isolated and new immigrants are not getting connected to the communities they live in.

Parents throughout the nation are looking for communities that care about kids. Every town should have an early childhood drop-in center where kids can play, where adults can meet and where Public Health Nurses, WIC Clinics and translation services can be easily accessed.

Demographics studies show that those that are moving to small towns are poor, have young children and are not white. This is the reality and we should acknowledge that the way to connect these families is with a non-threatening, non-demoninational, early childhood coffeehouse type setting.

Watch the magic grow from the interaction that takes place in a setting like this!

From Patrick Moore of Montevideo, MN on 05/25/05

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From VIctoria Ford of Saint Paul, MN on 06/07/05

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While the idea of using an empty building sounds cheap, it can be very expensive. The State has more rules about building safety and health, when you plan to put children in it, especially young (0-5) children. We are looking at doing just this thing. I am a member of the Pine Island Public School Board. We are looking at a building of about 5000 square feet, could be divided into 3-4 rooms. Big problem, each room would have to have two bathrooms in it. The entire building only has two.

From Jan Fisher of Pine Island, MN on 05/26/05

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This is one great idea! Others have commented on the need to connect immigrants with their new rural communities but this is the first concrete suggestion I've seen that could really work. What a perfect use for an empty main street building! It would be a natural place for long time residents and newcomers to meet and learn how to work together on common interests.

From Carol Ford of Milan, MN on 05/25/05

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