HCHY List: Involving Mayor's in Asset Building

[Mel Tremper]

There have been multiple postings on involving mayors in programs
supporting youth development.  It is nice to have buy in and support,
and best of all actualization of the principles, at the top level.  But
this is not without some risk.  One trap that communities may encounter
is having the program becoming identified as "the mayor's program" to
such a degree that when a new-comer gets elected he (or she) tosses out
the program as part of their effort to eliminate reminders of the
previous administration's accomplishments.  I know good programs are
sometimes eliminated at the State level when a new Governor takes over.
I imagine this can also happen at the local level.  This is just a
reminder that care should be taken to make sure the activities are
perceived as belonging to the community, and while the mayor is an
enthusiastic leader in this community effort, it is not just something
that one particular politician supports.  In some cases, this needs to
be done very carefully, since some mayors really like ego-tripping, even
if it is for a good cause.  

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