HCHY List: Talking about definitions...

[DEREK PETERSON]

In our current economic climate, the airwaves, newspapers,  
periodicals, coffee shops, and front porches are full of conversations  
about our changing world. They use terms like assets, 401K, net worth,  
ROI (return on investment), interest, and others...

We all know the definitions of these words. But, as "asset builders"  
we know that these words and concepts are "bigger and broader" than  
most americans are aware.

For instance...
assets... We know that there are more to assets than the amount of  
numbers our stuff is worth. We know that it is more than monetary  
value. We know that there are at least 40 assets that youth need to  
succeed. We know that real assets are both external and internal. And,  
we know that these assets should be broadly available within a  
community, but too often are hidden or never actualized. We know that  
the developmental assets can be build and sustained without the  
monetary assets. And, we know that the developmental assets are more  
critical to the survival of our family and communities.

Compound Interest... This is the time and attention that we give to  
children and youth. This time, spent during a child's early years,  
compounds year after year, adding value to the child/youth's life and  
our own.

Boink - the ball has been bounced to you... What youth development  
definitions can you provide to the current national "economic" dialogue?

I look forward to playing...

Onward,

Derek Peterson
International Child/Youth Advocate
derek at icar-us.com
701-212-1214