Valley teens make a difference

Two weeks ago, a group of teens and adults were here fixing up people's homes as part of the World Changers program. For the last three years, I've gotten the chance to meet with them as part of stories, and each time, I've left impressed.

The organization is affiliated with the North American Mission Board, a Southern Baptist Convention group, and travels around the country each summer, trying to help those in need. It is a unique mission, and one that the Valley has benefited from for several years.

Teens today get a bad reputation, but the middle school and high school students who take part in World Changers are nothing but impressive, upstanding citizens. They pay $350 -- plus transportation costs to Alaska -- to work all summer on the homes of people they have never met. That's even cheaper than free labor, if such a thing was possible.

There are other groups like World Changers out there, and teens are making a difference all the time. You just have to look around. Right here in the Valley, a group recently completed a community youth mapping survey, in which businesses were visited and polled to identify opportunities for youth. A database will be established online, so other youth can take advantage of the survey.

If you look around, you'll see big things happening from teens. In politics, for charities and in schools, Valley teens are making a big difference in their community. Some have organized bone marrow drives, some have organized soccer camps and some participate in national political organizations. They are well-rounded, educated students who work hard to make their voices heard.

For every teen's name that shows up in Police Beat, there's another teen out there helping establish a junior statesman organization in school. For every teen who runs astray of the law, another is helping raise money for a charity.

This November, many teens will get to vote for the first time. We shouldn't be scared about it -- they have proven that in years to come, they will provide the Valley with much-needed leadership.

Casey Ressler (valleylife@frontiersman.com) is the Valley Life editor.